The opposition parties have reiterated the need for consensus for the discussion and approval of the reform to the Electoral Law, and said that it should not be “an insipid law”.
Elexido Paula, president of the Dominican Humanist Party, (PHD) said that changes to the Electoral Law should be known before the Political Parties’ Bill is considered. They went on to say that the Political Parties’ Bill must not be imposed in a unilateral manner to respond to the special interests of the Presidential Palace. “That would be a serious affront to Dominican democracy”, exclaimed Paula.
Talking about open primaries, the opposition parties said that they would never support this legislation, and highlighted that even some factions of the ruling PLD party did not approve of the pending legislation either, as it would enable the government to influence the election of candidates from opposition parties and the three levels: congressional, presidential and municipal.
The comments were made at a press conference involving Max Puig, Minou Tavarez Mirabal, Jesús Vásquez, Federico (Quique) Antún, Soraya Aquino, Pedro Martínez and Rafael Gamundi Cordero who were representing the Modern Revolutionary Party, (PRM), the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Country Alliance Party (ALPAIS), Dominican Humanist Party (PHD), Dominicans for Change Party (DxC), Popular Front (FA), National Progressive Force (FNP), Alliance for Democracy (APD), Social Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRSD), Democratic Option (OD) and the Christian Socialist Party (PSC).
Meanwhile, supporters of President Danilo Medina in the Senate continue to back the approval of open primaries. Open primaries are opposed by former President Leonel Fernandez supporters, also of the ruling PLD party.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
Diario Libre
10 April 2018
