Both ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) majorities in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies voted to convene the National Constitutional Revisory Assembly in the next 15 days. The legislative assembly that brings together senators and deputies will then review the constitutional reform bill received from the Presidency and decide whether to accept the proposed nine points as is or make changes.
The proposed constitutional reforms aim to reduce the number of deputies, unify all elections in the same date, establish a new method for selecting the Attorney General, and introduce an ironclad clause prohibiting the President from serving more than two consecutive terms, among other changes.
The Dominican Constitution dates back to 2015. It was revised once during the Presidency of President Leonel Fernandez and once during the Presidency of Danilo Medina, when the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) was majority in both houses.
The convening of the revisory assembly received the vote of 136 deputies of the Modern Revolutionary Party of 178 legislators. This time, the opposition legislators of the Dominican Liberation Party (Danilo Medina) and the Fuerza del Pueblo (Leonel Fernandez), and the minority parties the Dominican Revolutionary Party (Miguel Vargas Maldonado) and the Quisqueyano Demócrata Cristiano (Elias Wessin Chavez) did not participate in the vote. The first to leave the legislative chamber were the representatives of the PLD who said they did this to not legitimize the changes.
Former President Leonel Fernandez has repeatedly said that there is nothing to change in the 2015 Constitution. That last reform enabled Fernandez to seek a new term given that the 2010 Constitution banned him from running for President again.
National District senator Omar Fernandez, speaking for the Fuerza del Pueblo of his father, former President Leonel Fernandez, criticized the fast-tracking of constitutional reform. He advocates for the holding of a general public consultation.
With the approval of the Senate and Deputies votes, the next step is for the Executive Branch to pass the bill that declares the need for constitutional reform and opens the floor for the congressional debates. Then the president of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos of the PRM, has 15 days to convene the revisory assembly. The resulting bill cannot be vetoed by the President.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Caribe
Noticias SIN
2 October 2024