A long list of priority bills is pending for review. The reelection topic had absorbed most of the time of the National Congress. The deputies and senators can concentrate on their real duties now that President Danilo Medina announced on Monday, 21 July 2019 that he would not seek reelection. The regular session of the legislature closes on 26 July 2019.
On Tuesday, 22 July, the Chamber of Deputies opened the session at 2pm after there was not enough quorum for the meeting called for 10am. During the session, the 117 deputies present voted for the Civil Code to return to the Permanent Justice Committee.
The deputies passed the first reading on a bill that would assist Dominican expats with funeral services.
Meanwhile, Demóstenes Martínez announced his aspirations to replace Radhamés Camacho in the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies for the next legislature that is set to open on 16 August 2019. A ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) Political Committee agreement established that the presidency would be alternated between deputies backing Medina and those backing Fernández. The PLD is majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
The senators got to work at 4pm. They approved the second reading of a bill that creates the San Juan de la Maguana Water Corporation (Coraasanjuan). San Juan de la Maguana senator Felix Bautista is the author of the bill.
Media reports are that the barricade that surrounds the National Congress had not been removed as of on Tuesday, 23 July 2019. El Nacional reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, Av. Jiménez de Moya was still closed off to vehicular traffic.
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Hoy
El Nacional
24 July 2019