The proposal for changing the Constitution that a PLD-appointed commission is preparing to send to Congress was shared and discussed with the PLD members of the Chamber of Deputies yesterday, Tuesday 28 April 2015. There was no consensus, and supporters of former President Leonel Fernandez expressed their opposition to re-instating re-election. The draft presented by the Commission authorizes one-time consecutive re-election and then bans the President from running for office ever again. The PLD supporters of President Danilo Medina’s bid for re-election call for inserting a transitory article in the Constitution that would make it clear that if Medina wins or loses in 2016 he cannot stand in 2020 or at any other time.
The commission drafting the proposal is chaired by the party’s general secretary, Reinaldo Pared Perez, and also includes Cesar Pina Toribio, Lidio Cadet, Abel Martinez, Cristina Lizardo, Radhames Camacho and Miriam Cabral.
The meeting was also attended by the vice president of the lower chamber, Lucia Medina, who is also a member of the Political Committee, and Ruben Maldonado, spokesman for the PLD deputies. Former Vice President Rafael Alburquerque did not attend.
The draft will be presented to the PLD senators today, Wednesday 29 April 2015.
Two-thirds of the vote is needed for the re-election bill to pass in Congress. This means that all the PLD legislators would have to vote in favor, as well as several from the opposition.
Juan Quinones, speaking for the Fernandez supporters, said that the legislators acknowledged the excellent job President Medina and his government have done and are not rebelling. Rather they are following Art. 77 of the Constitution that says that legislators are not obliged to vote as instructed but should represent the wishes of their constituents.
Changing the Constitution to accommodate a President is normal in the Dominican Republic. The Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (Finjus) reports that there have been 38 constitutional reforms over the years, of which in 36 of the cases the main reason was to suit the President’s interests, according to today’s editorial in El Dia, Wednesday 29 April 2015.
The 2010 Constitution bans the highly popular President Danilo Medina from running for re-election. It opens the way open for former President Leonel Fernandez, who is the president of the ruling PLD party, to seek the candidacy. Polls show that Fernandez is the highest rated currently eligible pre-candidate for the PLD.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2015/4/28/365245/Proyecto-propone-Danilo-vaya-ahora-y-nunca-mas