2012?•?Transformationsindex
Country report about the DR, quite a bit of reading material, quite interesting and you guys should read it.
Below you'll find part of it.
The 2010 elections were held only four months after the formation of a new constitution; the process had consumed almost all political life in the country for more than a year. The constitution reform process was relatively open, and early on it enjoyed broad-based participation from citizens and civil society organizations. Their influence in the final outcome was rather small, however, since the political parties in government and the National Congress, particularly the dominant PLD, controlled deliberations on the actual constitutional text. Civil society activity thus in general increased during the constitutional debates, and ad-hoc organizations have participated in political discussions, such on education issues, yet such participation had led to little direct influence on final policy. Nevertheless, in at least in some regions of the country, politicians must now at least consider the input of civil society groups in policy-making. The new constitution worsens the situation for Haitian immigrants and their descendants born in the Dominican Republic, and includes potentially important changes for political actors. Most importantly, the constitution generated an elite consensus between major parties and became the country?s first constitution written in a fully democratic setting. It is thus an important part of the ongoing transformation of the country.
The Dominican Republic in the period under review has generated good macroeconomic figures, and the government?s performance has improved from previous years (2006?2008). In the current period there was only early discussions regarding possible constitutional modifications to permit the re-election of Fern?ndez in 2012, which then facilitated the prioritization of long-term macroeconomic goals; the government too has been successful in meeting the goals of ongoing IMF-standby agreements. (In April 2011, it became clear that President Fern?ndez would not seek constitutional reform and re-election). However, progress toward addressing the country?s many structural problems regarding education, health and social inequality was minimal, despite generally good macroeconomic performance. In general, the period under review, like the one before it, can be characterized as a period of economic growth but social stagnation. No serious improvements in the population?s standard of living were achieved. Insufficient energy supplies remain a serious problem, as do corruption and discrimination against Haitians and Dominican-Haitians. The situation for Haitians and Dominican-Haitians has worsened due to the recent constitutional reform that excludes this group from obtaining citizenship. The government?s greatest success in the period under review is without a doubt the passing of a new constitution in January 2010, which is a clear victory for what had been described as the president?s personal project. At the same time, under the Fern?ndez administration the Dominican Republic has proved to be a reliable international partner and President Fern?ndez over the last two years has confirmed his role as a reliable regional leader. Despite the country?s small size, the Dominican Republic under Fern?ndez?s leadership has won an important position in regional politics.
Country report about the DR, quite a bit of reading material, quite interesting and you guys should read it.
Below you'll find part of it.
The 2010 elections were held only four months after the formation of a new constitution; the process had consumed almost all political life in the country for more than a year. The constitution reform process was relatively open, and early on it enjoyed broad-based participation from citizens and civil society organizations. Their influence in the final outcome was rather small, however, since the political parties in government and the National Congress, particularly the dominant PLD, controlled deliberations on the actual constitutional text. Civil society activity thus in general increased during the constitutional debates, and ad-hoc organizations have participated in political discussions, such on education issues, yet such participation had led to little direct influence on final policy. Nevertheless, in at least in some regions of the country, politicians must now at least consider the input of civil society groups in policy-making. The new constitution worsens the situation for Haitian immigrants and their descendants born in the Dominican Republic, and includes potentially important changes for political actors. Most importantly, the constitution generated an elite consensus between major parties and became the country?s first constitution written in a fully democratic setting. It is thus an important part of the ongoing transformation of the country.
The Dominican Republic in the period under review has generated good macroeconomic figures, and the government?s performance has improved from previous years (2006?2008). In the current period there was only early discussions regarding possible constitutional modifications to permit the re-election of Fern?ndez in 2012, which then facilitated the prioritization of long-term macroeconomic goals; the government too has been successful in meeting the goals of ongoing IMF-standby agreements. (In April 2011, it became clear that President Fern?ndez would not seek constitutional reform and re-election). However, progress toward addressing the country?s many structural problems regarding education, health and social inequality was minimal, despite generally good macroeconomic performance. In general, the period under review, like the one before it, can be characterized as a period of economic growth but social stagnation. No serious improvements in the population?s standard of living were achieved. Insufficient energy supplies remain a serious problem, as do corruption and discrimination against Haitians and Dominican-Haitians. The situation for Haitians and Dominican-Haitians has worsened due to the recent constitutional reform that excludes this group from obtaining citizenship. The government?s greatest success in the period under review is without a doubt the passing of a new constitution in January 2010, which is a clear victory for what had been described as the president?s personal project. At the same time, under the Fern?ndez administration the Dominican Republic has proved to be a reliable international partner and President Fern?ndez over the last two years has confirmed his role as a reliable regional leader. Despite the country?s small size, the Dominican Republic under Fern?ndez?s leadership has won an important position in regional politics.