2020News

Political wheeling and dealing gets curfew extension

La Romana politician Pedro Botello freely admitted that it took some wheeling and dealing to get his campaign to allow workers to access up to 30% of their pensions money on the Chamber of Deputies’ agenda. The price? Allow a quorum to be created to hear the President’s request for a fifth extension of the National State of Emergency and all that it involves. The Senate had rubberstamped the President’s request, but there was fierce opposition in the Chamber of Deputies. The deal was for the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) to participate in the session, thus establishing a quorum, and the government party members would vote on the proposal to allow workers to access up to 30% of their pension money now. The vote was taken and the proposal was approved. It now goes to the Senate where the government has complete control. With the quorum established, the Chamber of Deputies approved Medina’s request and the President signed the legislation just hours later.

The pension plan proposal is not expected to get past the review committee in the Chamber of Deputies.

Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
El Nacional

14 June 2020