Adriano Miguel Tejada, executive editor of Diario Libre, writes in the 24 July 2017 editorial about the high cost of Dominican elections. He says the government spends around RD$20 billion in electoral matters. “I don’t dare to say what could be done with all that money,” he remarks.
“The cost of maintaining the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the recognized political parties and the electoral justice is much more than what a country of our size and population should invest in this civic activity,” he writes.
He proposes the country create just a special court, with judges from the present judicial system, specialized in reviewing electoral matters. This role is now held by the costly Superior Electoral Court (TSE). An article in Diario Libre reports that the TSE costs the country RD$500 million a year, including RD$250 million a year in salaries.
Tejada also suggests shorter electoral controls and the controlling of advertising for fair competition among candidates.
He challenges the country to come up with ways to make the general elections less costly.
The comments are made as Congress closes on Tuesday, 25 July 2017, without the approval of the Political Parties Bill that would control political spending. The new legislature resumes on 16 August 2017.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
24 July 2017
