Former President Joaquín Balaguer said over the weekend that if the three majority political parties reach an agreement he would vote in favor of a constitutional reform that would permit a one-time re-election. A sector within the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD), the government party, is studying the possibility of presenting to Congress a proposal to modify the Constitution exchanging the possibility of re-election for a reduction of the number of votes necessary to win the elections to 45%. The 45% win is perceived as sufficient for a party with a strong candidate to win in the first round, without having to ally with another political party. At present time, consecutive re-election is prohibited by the Constitution and a candidate to President must obtain 50%+1 of the vote to win the election. Thus alliances are necessary. The proposal is for the bill to be effective the elections of year 2000. Several sectors within the PLD feel that the party’s only chance at staying in power is to re-launch President Leonel Fernández as the PLD presidential candidate. The largest opposition party, the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) responded to former President Balaguer’s comments saying that under no circumstances would they reach an agreement to modify the Constitution and permit presidential re-election for year 2000. The master of Dominican politics, Dr. Balaguer also commented on the austerity plan announced by the Fernández government. He said that the measures should help improve the economy and the situation of Dominicans, but he said that one would have to wait and see. He said the government had to do something. He was referring to President Fernández’s announcement of a freeze on government spending, and implementation of an austerity program seeking to diminish non-priority expenditures of the government. The government has been criticized for overspending. When asked his opinion on senator Milagros Ortiz Bosch’s decision to seek the presidential candidacy of the PRD, he commented: "There is not a more qualified representative of Dominican women in politics than her, it would be difficult to find someone better."
