The president of the Dominican Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez, told reporters on 23 May 2018 that President Danilo Medina “would not run,” when he was questioned on a radio program about the possible bid for reelection by current president Medina.
President Danilo Medina himself has not come forth to tell whether he will run or not. For Medina to run in 2020, he must foster a second change of the Dominican Constitution. The 2015 Constitution prohibits him from seeking what for him would be his third term in office.
Pared Pérez told the reporters that he understands that President Medina would instead back a presidential candidate of his choice. He went on to say that the “purple party” should present a new face in the 2020 elections and he said that the party was in need of renovation.
Along these lines, Pared Perez has announced his own intention to run for the presidential candidacy for the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD).
As he spoke on the radio program “El Sol en la Mañana”, he said that he feels that the people see him as the successor to President Danilo Medina. He went on to talk about the Political Parties Bill and the Electoral Regime Bill and said these would be studied by a joint committee so they can be passed in Congress in June.
The Political Parties Bill was recently passed in the Senate. But now the bicameral committee will decide on changes to be made so the amended bill can return to the Senate for passing.
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Diario Libre
24 May 2018
