The RD$220 million remodeling of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate has become a major headache for those in charge of protocol. As reported in Hoy newspaper, the seating in the National Assembly where both legislative houses gather has been reduced from 1,200 to 681 because large seats have been installed. The reduction affects the number of persons that can be present when President Leonel Fernandez presents the state of the nation Independence Day speech on 27 February. It is customary to invite high-ranking government officers and international mission leaders, in addition to representatives of business and social sectors in the DR.