Former President Leonel Fernández addressed his followers and the nation, speaking under an intense rainstorm from a truck platform parked near the National Congress. His words came after there were rumors that followers of President Danilo Medina would convene the National Assembly for Constitution Revision to begin the process to amend the 2015 Constitution.
The 2015 Constitution bans President Medina from seeking another term in office. The same constitution enabled former President Leonel Fernández to be the PLD presidential candidate in the 2020 general election.
Speaking to his followers and the general public, Fernández explained that the previous 2010 Constitution allowed for non-consecutive four-year terms with no limit to a politician returning to power. Fernández said this was an amendment of the 1994 Constitution incorporated into the 2010 Constitution because of negotiations with the largest opposition party of the time, the PRD. Leaders of the PRD were against consecutive reelection.
But Fernández said he had always favored the formula of two presidential terms and thus agreed to this in the 2015 Constitution amendment. The amendment enabled President Danilo Medina to seek a second consecutive term, but also enabled Fernandez to run again for President in 2020 and seek another period in 2024.
“A constitution is a social pact, it is not the monopoly of Congress,” said Fernández, speaking to his followers and the nation that has been following the political impasse between himself and President Danilo Medina.
“I lament that today we are here in front of the National Congress asking for respect to the Constitution.” He noted that most of the legislators and the presidents of both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies are fellow members of the Political Committee of the PLD.
“I lament this because I have had 46 years in the PLD, and I am a founding member of the party,” he stated.
“We cannot modify the Constitution every four years to facilitate the staying in power of the President of the Republic. I am sorry, but I cannot back this,” he said.
Fernández said that while his critics among Medina followers have consistently stressed that he should respect the decision of the majority and that he only represents the minority of Dominicans. But he stated the contrary is true. “The majority of the Dominican people are calling for respecting the Constitution,” said Fernández. He said 80% of the people want the Constitution to be respected.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 July, the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez was at the Presidential Palace meeting with President Danilo Medina.
Asked about the protest outside the Senate by Fernández, Pared Pérez told journalists: “Well, it’s his right, but the president of my party, protesting against the Congress that his party runs, leaves a lot to be desired.”
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Acento
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Listin Diario
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N Digital
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Diario Libre
El Caribe
18 July 2019