The ruling Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) announced it would no longer be part of the special presidential commission for Constitutional Reform. The commission was to present proposals for the reforming of the Constitution. So far, the commission has only proposed that the Constitution be reformed by a Constitutional Assembly and not by Congress alone. The commission requested an extension for further deliberations prior to makings its final recommendations. PRD president Hatuey de Camps says the party leaves the commission because there is a lack of consensus among the commission members. PRD congressmen, including the Senate president, are strong advocates of revising the Constitution so that presidential elections are held in the same year as the congressional/municipal election. This could extend their term through 2004. Congressional and municipal elections are slated for 16 May 2002.
