NewsWhore
05-26-2006, 05:10 PM
Civil society and business representatives, meeting yesterday for a roundtable discussion on transparency and governance at Unibe University, favored reforming the DR's electoral law. There were opinions in favor of reducing the number of judges on the Central Electoral Board (JCE), as well as improving the training of JCE staff and eliminating the possibility of one candidate bringing along another in the election. Mariano Rodriguez, president of the National District electoral court, met yesterday with Georges Santoni, Servio Tulio Castanos and Jose Ramon Vega of the Fundacion Institucionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS), as well as Javier Cabreja, of Participacion Ciudadana to discuss ways to improve elections in the DR. Also taking part were Elena Brineman, director of USAID, and Elena Viyella de Paliza, president of the National Business Council (CONEP). Also attending were Licelotte Marte of the PRSC, who favored returning to the structure of five judges instead of the present nine judges.
As reported in Diario Libre, Rodriguez suggested investing in training staff, and simplifying forms to improve the organization of the event. Santoni, president of the board of FINJUS, said that any reform of the system should include a redesign of the post-election process, and filing away the possibility of electronic voting, as well as unifying the Presidential and Congressional elections.
Javier Cabreja proposed choosing judges from civil society, with no political ties, and changing the structure of the JCE to eliminate the contradictions. He favors separating the elections of senators and deputies, so voters can choose between one and another, as opposed to the current system where voting for one could drag the other.
Elena Brineman said it is important to focus on the positive aspects of the election as well, commenting that in comparison to elections in other countries in the area, the Dominican congressional and municipal election had more lights than shadows, as reported in El Caribe.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)
As reported in Diario Libre, Rodriguez suggested investing in training staff, and simplifying forms to improve the organization of the event. Santoni, president of the board of FINJUS, said that any reform of the system should include a redesign of the post-election process, and filing away the possibility of electronic voting, as well as unifying the Presidential and Congressional elections.
Javier Cabreja proposed choosing judges from civil society, with no political ties, and changing the structure of the JCE to eliminate the contradictions. He favors separating the elections of senators and deputies, so voters can choose between one and another, as opposed to the current system where voting for one could drag the other.
Elena Brineman said it is important to focus on the positive aspects of the election as well, commenting that in comparison to elections in other countries in the area, the Dominican congressional and municipal election had more lights than shadows, as reported in El Caribe.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)