Followers of former President Leonel Fernández are preparing a large concentration on Wednesday afternoon, 17 July 2019, to protest efforts underway to amend the Constitution. On Friday, 12 July 2019, followers of PRM presidential pre-candidate Luis Abinader congregated in the same area to protest.
Fernández is the president of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party. He has registered as a presidential pre-candidate for the party. He has announced he will be at the Congress site to sign the symbolic book on Wednesday. His followers are gathering signatures to protest the possible constitutional reform that would enable Danilo Medina also to be a presidential pre-candidate and if chosen by the party, seek a third term in government.
During the announcement at the party headquarters, former Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, a member of the Fernández team, dismissed the recent remarks by Medina spokesman, Roberto Rodríguez Marchena on the actions of Fernández and his followers, calling them an “outburst.”
“He (the presidential spokesman) cannot judge those who have been belligerent and disciplined militants of the Dominican Liberation Party,” Alburquerque said of an audio leak where Marchena calls Fernández’s followers “insolent,” “blackmailers,” and “spoiled”.
Followers of President Danilo Medina have urged the dissidents that follow Fernández to adhere to the party’s discipline and uphold the decisions of the majority of the party. Medina is said to have majority in the Political Committee and Central Committee of the PLD. Political analysts, nevertheless, say he has not been able to ensure sufficient votes for the constitutional amendment to pass in Congress.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
El Caribe
16 July 2019