Directors of 11 opposition parties met on 24 April 2018, with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ruben Maldonado, to lobby for a “no” vote to a Political Parties Bill that recently passed in the Senate. The opposition party leaders do not agree with the motion that would make obligatory for all political parties to hold simultaneous open primaries to choose their presidential candidates in the 2020 general election. The opposition representatives also advocated that the Congress give priority to the Electoral Regimen Bill instead of the Political Parties Bill.
Meeting with Maldonado at the Chamber of Deputies were key officers of the political parties Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC), Revolucionario Social Demócrata (PRSD), Alianza por la Democracia (APD), Quisqueyano Demócrata Cristiano (PQDC), Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP), Humanista Dominicano (PHD), Partido Socialista Cristiano (PSC), Alianza País, Frente Amplio, Opción Democrática y Dominicanos por el Cambio.
Even the ruling PLD party is divided on the issue. While simultaneous open primaries are backed by legislators loyal to President Danilo Medina, supporters of former President Leonel Fernández reject the method. In a recent written statement published online at vanguardiadelpueblo.do, the official website for the PLD, states that if the method it is opposed it would only be through force. Nevertheless, the note concludes the motion would not divide the party.
There is speculation in the media that the government seeks for the bills that would instate controls and checks to political system to continue stagnated in congress, where they have lagged for over 20 years.
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Listin Diario
El Caribe
25 April 2018
