President Leonel Fernández says it is counterproductive and untimely that there be talks of reforming the Constitution. He said the task should be left to the new Congress that begins work on 16 August, and not to the present Congress. It is unlikely that the new congress will bring up the discussions, as President Fernández is the PLD’s most vote-getting politician. The opposition party, PRD, will control the new Congress. In 1994, at the time of an electoral crisis, the Constitution was reformed and presidential re-election banned. PLD party members have opened talks with present Congressmen seeking to reform the Constitution to again permit consecutive re-election. Supporters of President Fernández feel that four years is not enough time for the statesman to complete his government program.
