The present legislature closes on 26 July 2019. When reporters asked the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) if there was still time to modify the Constitution, he responded: “The only thing for which there is no time is to not die, for everything else there is time.”
Pared Pérez is also the secretary-general of the PLD. That afternoon, he was at the Presidency. He returned and declared the next work session would be on Tuesday, 23 July. Of 32 senators, 27 were present at the Wednesday session.
The Wednesday, 17 July work session took place while former President Leonel Fernández spoke to his followers that gathered outside the National Congress to protest attempts to convene the National Assembly for Constitutional Revision. This call is a first step for constitutional reform. Constitutional reform was not on the agenda for Wednesday.
The regular legislature closes on 26 July, but President Danilo Medina could order an extension through 14 August.
There is a 22 August 2019 deadline for the presenting of pre-candidates for the 6 October 2019 Dominican Liberation Party (PRD) primary. Thus, the expectations that the National Assembly for Constitutional Revision could be introduced any day now.
The National Assembly for Constitutional Revision can be convened with half of the legislators present in each house. Once the bill is approved in one house, a 24-hour wait period is required to present it in the second house, where again half of those present can approve it and begin constitutional deliberations.
Political analysts explain President Medina followers have enough votes to convene the National Assembly for Constitutional Revision. Nevertheless, there is speculation the ruling party has not ensured sufficient votes for the motion to pass in the Chamber of Deputies. Medina followers are majority in the Senate.
Meanwhile, managing editor of Diario Libre, Ines Aizpun writes in an editorial on Thursday, 18 July that the open dispute in the ruling party is probably a good thing. It could deactivate the accumulation of power by the ruling party that she says has reached levels of the PRI in Mexico.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
18 July 2019