And - a critic would say - one thing the ruling party surely can do better on is managing the personal conduct of its elected representatives. The sex lives of Ministers - while always colorful - has been getting a lot of attention in the past month, after screenshots emerged showing two Ministers in separate compromising situations.
One of them is Minister of the Blue Economy Andres Perez, who is on a leave of absence from Cabinet for an unspecified duration while his conduct is investigated.
But, leaked documents revealed at mid month show that he was still receiving his full ministerial salary - which is contrary to what the PM told us at the end of August.
Today the press asked him if he tried to slip one by the public:
Reporter
"Did the cabinet secretary take the rap for you about saying he forgot?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Really, you will ask me that question? honestly. I feel offended because when I gave the... when I said that he was, noh di laugh Jules, I'm being honest. No, no, but its true because you basically are telling me that I'm lying. I said that he, he asked for a leave of absence and it's an unpaid leave of absence."
"He's not a cabinet minister. So how can he get his salary? Let's start on the basis. And it seems that indeed the cabinet secretary forget to pass it on to the chain of command that he should not get that salary."
"We're hoping now that the Cab Sec will speak to him that probably he'll have to refund that first part that he got that because he was not a minister of cabinet."
