Opposition candidate Luis Abinader is in favor, but President Danilo Medina, who throughout his government has said he prefers to let his works speak for themselves rather than addressing the media, has declined any proposal to participate in a debate on national issues. The National Association of Young Entrepreneurs has tried hard but has not been able to convince the President to participate in a US-style debate. Over the years, Dominicans have just had to listen to each candidate making their proposals separately. The Central Electoral Board (JCE) is in favor of debates.
This year, the heat is on again pushing for the debate to be held before the 15 May 2016 general election. On 10 January, PRM presidential candidate Luis Abinader challenged Danilo Medina to a political debate. Yesterday, Tuesday 9 February, Abinader reiterated his call, on the grounds that the nation wants to hear the proposals, what the reality is, what was promised and what was not fulfilled. He said national issues should be debated respectfully but transparently. He called for the debate during an event hosted by the Dominican Republic Association of Industries (AIRD) where he outlined his proposals for the industrial sector.
During the session, Marisol Vicens of the AIRD expressed regret at the fact that the DR is the only Latin American country where political candidates do not meet for a debate in the run up to a general election. She said it there should not have to be a law that orders a debate for one to take place.
Legislator Victor Bisono of the minority PRSC, some of whose members support President Danilo Medina’s candidacy while others favor Luis Abinader, said that a debate would put the candidates on an equal footing for sharing their ideas and vision and would give the electorate the opportunity to vote based on proposals and not on political patronage or the “unnecessary noise” of political rallies. He pointed out that Congress has still not approved the Political Parties Bill, which was drawn up in 1996, saying that this shows that the dominant political elite has not wanted to take on these responsibilities.
“It is time that we finally had a serious campaign of ideas and elevated discussions, with laws that are approved and work and provide the Dominican Republic with an institutional framework, as ordered by the Constitution and the National Development Strategy. Discussions should be a reality in this country,” said Bisono.
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/debate-politico-vuelve-a-ser-tema-de-debate/ftwpbj—PNEmJnPw4jPAY/
