More than 10 deputies from the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRM) ignored the opposition party line to not vote for any legislative initiative until the cordoning off of the National Congress is discontinued. There is speculation this could mean the deputies may consider backing the ruling PLD party if it presents a proposal to amend the Constitution. Followers of President Danilo Medina are intent on submitting a bill to convene Congress to study the proposed amendment that would allow Medina to run for a third term. This is vehemently opposed by followers of former President Leonel Fernandez. Fernandez, who is president of the PLD, wants to run for President again. It would be his fourth presidency if he is elected in May 2020.
The PRM legislators voted for the resolution that requests that the Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) and the Supervisory Office for Public Works (OISOE) carry out works to rebuild the dike at the Aglipo II Project over Yuna River in Duarte province.
The initiative had been presented by nine legislators, including PRM deputies José Luís Rodríguez, Franklin Romero, Nicolás Tolentino López Mercado and Adelis de Jesús Olivares. Other PRM deputies that voted for the bill were Jorge Bernard, Manuel Bernard, Robinson Díaz, Francisco Santos, José Morel, Nicolás de la Rosa, Miledys Suero, Jean Luís Rodríguez and Eduard Jorge.
The bill passed with the vote of the PRM legislators, that of those who back President Danilo Medina, and legislators representing the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). Legislators that are loyal to Leonel Fernández abstained from the vote.
The PRM had ordered its legislators to not vote for the bills until the military and police troops around the Congress are removed.
In a separate incident, tensions escalated in the Chamber of Deputies after PRM deputies said that a military had entered to film the remarks being made by opposition party deputy, Faride Raful of the PRM. The legislative sessions are recorded and leading media have posted units to cover Congress incidents given the tense situation.
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N Digital
Listin Diario
3 July 2019