Three members of the PLD party’s Political Committee, National District senator Reinaldo Pared Perez, Education Minister Carlos Amarante Baret and Senate president Cristina Lizardo are optimistic that the bill to restore consecutive presidential re-election will be approved by the required majority of PLD legislators.
In a report in El Dia, the politicians played down a complaint of alleged bribery to convince legislators to vote in favor of the proposed constitutional reform. Pared Perez said that they are creating the conditions for the presidential election, as this is an irreversible decision by the PLD Political Committee. Pared Perez said that in the past, all PC decisions have been respected by most of the party. Amarante Baret commented that there is no likelihood of reversing the Political Committee mandate on amending the Constitution.
Meanwhile, opposition PRM legislators say they are firmly opposed to the initiative. Josefa Castillo of the PRM says that even if the 148 PLD legislators are in favor, 17 opposition votes are needed.
In a mass held on Sunday, 10 May 2015 to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the death of Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, PRM presidential candidate Luis Abinader said that the best tribute that could be made to the late PRD party leader was to give an example of unity to oust the PLD from power in the next election.
Political analyst Juan Bolivar Diaz says the re-election draft has intensified the division within the ruling party between those who favor President Danilo Medina and former President Leonel Fernandez in a review in acento.com.do
http://www.noticiassin.com/2015/05/legisladores-prm-reafirman-reeleccion-no-pasara/
http://acento.com.do/2015/politica/8247812-leonel-resiste-y-encarece-el-costo-de-la-reeleccion-analisis-de-juan-bolivar-diaz/