In a surprising turn of events, the La Vega City Council voted on Tuesday, 5 November 2024 to overturn a previous resolution that had accepted the resignation of Vice Mayor Amparo Custodio. With 11 out of 17 council members in favor, Custodio is cleared to replace Mayor Kelvin Cruz for the remainder of the term that ends in April 2028.
Kelvin Cruz, elected mayor in the February 2024 municipal election, and in the position since April 2024, had resigned to accept his nomination as Minister of Sports in the Abinader government that started in August.
The decision by the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party-majority City Council reportedly came after numerous community organizations, neighborhood associations, and social leaders in La Vega called for the City Council to reinstate Custodio. These groups expressed concerns about the potential disruption to the city’s governance and urged the council to restore normalcy to the municipal government.
As reported in CDN, Custodio herself had previously submitted a letter to the Council, indicating her willingness to return as mayor after careful consideration of the numerous requests from prominent figures in La Vega. She emphasized that her return would contribute to institutional stability and peace within the city.
Custodio had accompanied Cruz on a municipal ticket that had received 77% of the vote during the February election. She had resigned citing lack of support from the PRM-majority La Vega City Council given that she is from an opposition party, the Frente Amplio.
The Custodio solution comes forth after considerations that Kelvin Cruz be replaced by a candidate chosen by Presidential Decree, a transitory clause in the 2024 Constitution was passed to the effect, and opposition parties had called for a new election.
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CDN
6 November 2024