The president of the Central Electoral Court (JCE), Julio César Castaños Guzmán, has called on the national political leaders to enter into a frank dialogue to reach to a consensus so that the Bill of Political Parties can be approved in time for the 2020 general elections. He said that the leaders of each party should come to an agreement now.
He reminded that the 2020 elections would be very complicated as the presidential elections would be held separately from the congressional and municipal ones, and it would be ideal if the bill could be passed before the end of 2018 to avoid major problems.
Castaños Guzmán estimates that if simultaneous primaries by the 26 political parties are held using the JCE voting list, it will cost the JCE an additional RD$4.8 billion that would have to be added to the JCE budget. He said if the simultaneous primary ruling is only required for the four largest political parties, the cost would be RD$2.8 billion. He said there are 7.4 million Dominicans eligible to vote.
Castaños criticized that the delay in the approval of the bill is because the political parties want to adjust the bill to the individual conveniences of their political candidates and not to the collective interest.
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Diario Libre
El Dia
12 September 2017
