The very active civilian watch group called Participacion Ciudadana sent out a press release that backs the decision of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to restrict the number of reserved candidates established by political parties as part of preparations for the 2024 general elections. Participación Ciudadana says the resolution is within the guidelines established in the Law on Political Parties.
In a rather pointed observation, PC noted that the JCE resolution is per the 2019 sentence that the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) had issued against the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), when that party was in the opposition. Back then the parties were mute on the issue. The parties that now oppose the resolution are the same ones that did not say anything back in 2019.
Participación Ciudadana explains that the whole issue revolves around a democratic process of primaries within each party, something that is exceedingly rare in politics in Latin America where the “finger” style appointment of candidates is the norm. Party leadership usually decides who the candidates for the important posts will be rather than these being elected by the party base in any primary process.
Transparency International has also pointed this out. According to Participacion Ciudadana, if the parties had their way (in violation of Article 216 of the Constitution) they could then dictate who the candidates would be for the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies and all of the mayors will be.
However, if the JCE resolution is complied with, the parties can only reserve 6 of the 32 Senate seats, 38 of the 190 seats in the Chamber of deputies and 32 of the 152 mayor positions.
In protest, deputies of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), the Christian Democrat Quisqueyan Party (PQDC) and the People’s Force (FP) said they would not attend the future sessions in Congress. They argue the JCE resolution seriously affects their parties.
Citizens will vote for city governments in February 2024 and the congressional and presidential election will be in May 2024.
Participación Ciudadana is the local chapter of Transparency International.
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N Digital
Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
El Caribe
15 May 2023