The plenary of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) accepted the presidential nomination of Leonel Fernández for the Dominican Workers Party (PTD), the JCE reported on its Twitter account. The plenary had earlier said it would wait for the opinion of the Constitutional Court before making its ruling. But after the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) said there was no legal or constitutional objection to Fernández running for the PTD, the JCE met again to discuss the matter and issued the tweet.
The announcement comes before the JCE has issued its formal acceptance of the change of name of the PTD to the People’s Force (LFP), as requested by the team backing former President Fernández.
Former President Fernandez had argued that with its statement, the TSE has declared invalid the clauses in the Political Parties Law 33-18 and the Electoral Regime Law 15-19 that seemed to block him from seeking the presidency for another party. The JCE awarded the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) candidacy to Gonzalo Castillo, who had the backing of President Danilo Medina. Citing widespread fraud, Fernández split from the party and announced the liaison with the Dominican Workers Party (PTD) that would be changed to The People’s Force (La Fuerza del Pueblo – LFP).
“I take on the commitment to tirelessly work to win the 2020 elections and then from the government carry out the second wave of transformations that the country needs so that progress reaches all Dominican families. With The Force of the People we will win,” stated Fernández commenting on the JCE tweet.
The deadline for the registration of presidential candidacies at the JCE is 3 March 2020.
The final word of whether he can run or not, nevertheless, is pending on a decision of the Constitutional Court (TC). The TC had said it will discuss the issue on 29 November 2019.
21 November 2019
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21 November 2019