On Thursday, 25 July 2019, former President Hipólito Mejía (2000-2004) surprised many when he announced his support to amend the 2015 Constitution so that President Danilo Medina can run for President in 2024. 78-year old Mejía is a leader of a minority faction in the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), the largest opposition party.
Nevertheless, Mejía said that once Medina is allowed to run again, the Dominican Constitution should restrict the presidential term to a maximum of two four-year periods. That is, the US model.
Mejía aspires to be elected the PRM presidential candidate in the 6 October 2019 party primary. Polls show he is far behind his main contender, Luis Abinader, who has been a strong opponent to constitutional reform.
Mejía’s statements came after President Danilo Medina had announced on Monday, 22 July 2019, that he would not seek to reform the constitution to enable him to run in the 2020 general election.
Former Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch criticized Mejía’s remark. Ortiz Bosch served as Mejía’s Vice President from 2000 to 2004. She says that the PRM should be concentrating on party strengthening and its electoral strategy to win the 2020 general election. She said the focus should be on implementing strategies to oust the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) from power. The PLD has been in power now for almost 16 consecutive years.
PRM party leader José Ignacio Paliza also countered Mejía’s position. Paliza emphasized that the party should grow by its forces and on the actions of its legislators. He said to enable Medina to run in 2024 would foster impunity. He disagreed with those who consider Medina or Fernández undefeatable. He said: “Both can be defeated, each in their moment and time.”
In 2003, then-President Hipólito Mejía pushed through constitutional reform to enable himself to run for President. He then lost his bid for a second term against former President Leonel Fernández, who would remain in power from 2004-2008 and 2008-2012.
Mejía was elected President in 2000 when then-President Leonel Fernández did not fully back the PLD candidate at the time, today President Danilo Medina. Over the past years, Mejía has repeatedly spoken up to endorse positions by Medina, and has been contradictorily seen as a Medina ally. His daughter, Carolina Mejía is secretary general of the PRM and has not corroborated the positions of her father.
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Acento
Z101 Digital
Diario Libre
29 July 2019