Amable Aristy Castro yesterday finally announced his resignation as the Senator from Altagracia Province, claiming that he was doing so at the specific instructions of his party’s leader, ex-President Joaqu?n Balaguer. The former Senate President had promised his resignation ever since being "elected" by a municipal assembly on January 26th as the Secretary-General (SG) of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD). Two parallel municipal assemblies were held on January 26th which elected Aristy Castro, of the Reformista-Social Christian Party (PRSC) and Julio Mar??ez Rosario, of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) as LMD SG, both after making dubious rule changes. A case now pending in the courts would decide which, if either, of the elections was legal and who should be SG.The resignation was always a foregone conclusion if Aristy Castro wanted to retain the LMD SG post. Under Article 18 of the Dominican Constitution, a national legislator cannot hold another public office, and many have pointed to this provision to argue that LMD decisions Aristy Castro has made since January 26th are without legal merit. Although he had claimed more than once that he was only waiting for his party leader, Dr. Balaguer, to designate a PRSC replacement for his Senate seat, it was widely believed that Aristy Castro was reluctant to give up the Senate seat without first knowing the fate of LMD court case.
