Constitution specialist Namphi Rodríguez told TV hosts Huchi Lora and Amelia Deschamps of El Día on Telesistema, Channel 11, that in the Dominican Republic there are not the conditions for the government to push through a second reelection amendment. Rodríguez, who is the coordinator of the Constitutional Forum (Foro Constitucional) and a professor of constitutional law, maintained that President Danilo Medina “should publicly speak up on the matter to dissipate the dictatorship clouds that are looming on the Dominican political horizon.”
Rodríguez made the statement after recent statements by high-ranking Dominican clergy that warned that government control of the judiciary, legislature and executive branch could be leading to a dictatorship.
“After the swearing in of a member of the Central Committee of the ruling PLD as president of the Supreme Court of Justice, the boundaries on the division of powers have become blurred and there is serious concern about the rule of law,” stated Rodríguez. He urged that President Medina speaks to the country on the topic. Medina had stated in a TV interview with TV host Jatna Tavarez in August 2018 that he would address the matter in March.
Rodríguez also highlighted that around 70% of the Dominican population rejects a constitutional amendment to enable President Danilo Medina to seek a third consecutive term.
Rodríguez advocated that a clause be included in the next constitutional reform so that a constitutional amendment can no longer benefit the President under which the amendment is passed.
He explained that the Constitutional Forum is a civil society initiative that has undertaken a public agenda to educate the population on the implications of a constitutional reform at this time.
He said that debates on constitutional reform have been held in Santiago, La Romana, Higuey, San Pedro de Macoris, San Cristobal, Puerto Plata and Moca, with the participation of experts and politicians. The activities are open to the general public.
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Hoy
23 April 2019