The planned demonstration outside the National Congress building in Santo Domingo went ahead in an organized fashion yesterday morning. Hundreds of people from civil society organizations and political parties joined together to protest the controversial Ley de Lemas, or Preferential Presidential Vote, which seeks to reform the electoral system by permitting a party to field up to five candidates at the Presidential elections. The proposed reform has met with angry opposition from many sectors, claiming it gives President Hipolito Mejia’s candidacy an unfair advantage. The demonstration itself, which lasted four hours, was described by the papers as being “peaceful and energetic”, with protestors brandishing placards and a copy of the Dominican Constitution, and using loudspeakers to drown out the proceedings inside the Chamber. On a lighter note, a straw donkey from the nativity scene outside the Congress building was co-opted by the protestors and garlanded with a sign that read “This is Hipolito Mejia.” El Caribe reports that at around 10:30 am police arrived with riot gear, tear gas canisters and security barriers to contain the crowd. Some of the chants included: “If this law is approved there will be trouble,” “We don’t want the ‘Ley de Enemas,'” “Whoever votes for this law is a traitor” and “We won’t allow the island to be sunk.” The placards included “Congress represents the people, not the parties, please act with maturity.” Miriam Diaz Santana who heads civil society organization Participacion Cuidadana spoke to the protestors and called the law “an attack on the Dominican people.” Diario Libre’s main commentary this morning congratulates the demonstrators for carrying out their protest in a non-violent manner, as opposed to other, more disorderly events.