The PRSC and PLD, the two leading opposition parties, favor postponing constitutional reform until after the May 2002 congressional and municipal elections. But those who want it to happen now have a supporter in President Hipolito Mejia. President Mejia said on Sunday, “I do not agree with that – of leaving the reform of the Constitution for after 2002 – no way. That is happening now; I only am waiting for a communication from Agripino Núñez Collado [coordinator of a Presidential Commission on Constitutional Reform], on some changes in the bill and immediately I will send it to Congress.” The Listin Diario says Congress expects the bill to be sent today via the Chamber of Deputies. According to an Ultima Hora news item, the ruling party has sufficient majority in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate to impose their changes to the Constitution. The support of the president of the Chamber, PRSC deputy Rafaela Alburquerque reportedly would add an air of legitimacy to the reform bill. The news item says that the support of the PRSC would have been negotiated with former President Joaquin Balaguer. The PRD has 24 of 30 senators and at least 73 of 149 deputies. The Constitution establishes in Article 118 that the National Assembly will meet with the presence of more than half of the members of each of the chambers and the decisions require a majority of two thirds of the votes.
