DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

It was a take it or leave it situation, and President Luis Abinader chose to enact the Penal Code bill as received from the ruling party majority Congress. The code does not go into effect until August 2026, giving still time for society and other branches of government to present recommendations for Congress to pass changes.

In his weekly press briefing, President Luis Abinader on 4 August 2025 defended his enactment of the new Penal Code. Abinader framed the recently enacted legislation (Law 74-25) as a significant improvement over the current code which has been in effect since 20 May 1884.

The President admitted that the new code, slated to take effect in 2026, falls short of being ideal. However, he stressed it was the best version achievable given the current political and social climate.

“The truth is, and I repeat, there is no perfect law. Every law is perfectible. This...