The Senate has announced that it will study the Central Electoral Board (JCE) resolution that recommends against legislators using the funds allocated for “social welfare contributions” during the electoral campaign on 2 March 2016. Senate president Cristina Lizardo said that they would only accept the JCE’s recommendation if the ruling PLD party ordered its execution.
However, President Danilo Medina has already hinted that he is not in agreement.
Legislators say that the JCE is not entitled to oblige them to suspend the funds that are used at their own discretion, reportedly to obtain political loyalty from their constituents. As approved in the National Budget, each of the 32 senators receives RD$24 million for “social works” every month, as reported in Hoy.
Most of the senators, all representing the ruling PLD party with the exception of one, are seeking re-election. It is known that they are seeking to continue in their posts as part of the deal that pushed through President Danilo Medina’s re-election.
http://hoy.com.do/avalancha-de-votos-senado-rechazaria-suspension-b-a-rril/
