The 2010 Constitution included the figure of a referendum, and the Presidency sent a bill for its enactment to Congress. Yet, neither the religious groups nor the pro-three grounds for abortion are backing the figure.
Yet, President Luis Abinader in a press conference with EFE Spanish news agency president Gabriela Cañas said he was backing the referendum as a way to consult the people on the topic directly. Polls have already shown a majority favor the three grounds. President Abinader said he was in favor of the three grounds, yet he understands the topic of the three grounds encompasses the issue of religion, aside from the health issue. Thus, he is leaving the matter up to the Congress to decide and will not lobby for one way or the other. This was the second time, Abinader used the platform of Spanish press to address the issue of the referendum and abortion. Previously, he had given a similar interview with El Pais, the Spanish news media.
When campaigning for President, Abinader had backed the three grounds for abortion. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) had also backed the three grounds when opposition in Congress. Today, the PRM is the majority in both houses of Congress.
When the PRM-majority dilly-dallied over the issue of child marriage, President Luis Abinader stepped in and the bill banning child marriage in the Dominican Republic was passed after years of debate.
On “Esta Noche con Mariasela,” Constitutional law expert Cristobal Rodríguez warned that the use of the referendum to decide the matter of fundamental woman rights and dignity could set a negative precedent and the recourse could be used in the future for other matters running against the rights of Dominicans. He said it would be time before the legislation authorizes the referendum. The Dominican government has not addressed the issue of the high cost of carrying out a referendum.
The PRM-majority Congress is now backing maintaining the criminalization of abortion in the Penal Code that is under review.
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Acento
Acento
Acento
19 April 2021