Despite one of the highest popularity ratings ever enjoyed by a Dominican President during the second year in government, President Danilo Medina recently confirmed he has no plans to continue after his term is over.
During his visit to Rome late last week, President Medina told reporters that Pope Francis had accepted his invitation to the Dominican Republic. The President went on to say that he hoped this could happen during his term. When asked when it ended, President Medina clearly stated: 2016.
Presidents in the Dominican Republic have always sought re-election, but the 2010 Constitution now bans consecutive re-election. It has also been customary for Presidents in the Dominican Republic to change the Constitution so they can remain in power. This has led President Medina’s supporters to encourage him to find ways to convince the PLD-majority Congress to vote on a change in the Constitution so he can run for re-election for the party in the 2016 national election. President Medina has repeatedly stated that his term ends in 2016.