Sociologist César Pérez says that Medina followers are intent on modifying the 2015 Constitution to unify municipal, congressional and presidential elections to ensure their privileges continue. Advocates of the constitutional amendment have argued there will be important cost savings if the election is held on the same date.
Pérez blatantly points out that what is at stake are the privileges of politicians and civil servants and their generous pensions after four years in service. He stresses that the shameful discretionary funds available to the legislators, the corruption of the political class and businessmen that grow rich at the expense of taxpayers are what is really behind the interest in constitutional reform.
He explains that the interest in unifying the municipal election with the presidential and congressional elections is a bait to amend the clause that impedes Medina from running for President again. The city elections are scheduled for 16 February 2020 and the presidential and congressional elections for 17 May 2020.
Pérez criticized that key people within the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) are advocating for constitutional amendment to restore Medina as a political candidate. Former President Hipólito Mejía has backed the rehabilitating of President Danilo Medina so he can again run for President in 2024.
“With its support for this rehabilitation, this Perremeista sector also ignores the generalized feeling against the government for Odebrecht’s bribes, corruption and impunity. He recalled the rejection of constitutional reform expressed during the Green March movement marches.
Pérez says that the ambiguous position of the party on this issue of great transcendence and interest for this country “contributes to feed the old and historical prejudices against that party.”
César Cedeño, the national coordinator for the presidential campaign of former President Hipólito Mejía, has said that the rehabilitating of President Danilo Medina “is just a matter of time.” Mejía is competing against Luis Abinader for the PRM presidential nomination in the 6 October 2019 primary.
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12 September 2019