The Chamber of Deputies, that has the majority of votes, gave priority to the first reading of a bill to implement the figure of the referendum in the Dominican Republic to decide on controversial issues. The bill explains it would be a preparatory step to amending the 2015 Constitution.
The project approved by the deputies defines the constitutional referendum as a procedure for direct citizen participation to approve proposals to modify the Constitution, once they are voted on and approved by the National Review Assembly.
The constitutional referendum will be required when the reform of the Magna Carta deals with rights, fundamental guarantees, territorial planning, nationality, citizenship and the immigration and currency regimes.
The bill carries clauses to regulate the referendum as a mechanism for citizens to exercise their right to political participation. The referendum is contemplated in the 2015 Constitution, which is in effect.
To establish the referendum in the DR, the government must create favorable conditions for its implementation. At the same time the Central Electoral Board, the government electoral body, will provide advice, exhaust avenues for conciliation and debate, and maintain the exchange of public information, establishes the bill.
After the Central Electoral Board (JCE) receives the texts that would be considered for an amendment of the Constitution, the bill establishes that the government electoral body would need to call the referendum within 60 days. The voters can only answer “yes” or “no” to what is proposed.
The referendum bill was drafted by Julio Furcal of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). Furcal is brother of Roberto Furcal, the infamous former 2020 presidential campaign manager for President Luis Abinader who was later named Minister of Education. Two years into the job, Roberto Furcal was removed after multiple complaints for irregularities in the Ministry. State prosecutors have never presented charges against him, despite abundant evidence of corruption reported in the press. Julio Furcal is spokesman for the PRM in the Chamber of Deputies.
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Diario Libre
11 January 2024