NewsWhore
05-13-2009, 03:00 PM
The Constitution Revisory Assembly that is debating the changes and expansion of the Constitution from 120 articles to 254 articles proposed by President Leonel Fernandez failed to meet yesterday because of a lack of quorum. The session was to begin at 3pm, but by 4:20pm not enough members had arrived so Assembly president Reinaldo Pared Perez canceled the session, rescheduling it for today.
Listin Diario reports that only 15 Senate members were present. To make quorum, 50%+1 of the members of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies need to be present. The minimum quorum would have been met with 17. The ruling PLD party is majority in the Senate, which is leading political analysts to speculate that there is a split within the PLD regarding Art. 104, which focuses on changing the Constitutional provision banning a presidential candidate from running again after participating in two elections. Political commentators say that the absences could be attributed to politicians loyal to former Presidency secretary Danilo Medina taking a step back to force negotiations.
President Leonel Fernandez earlier led talks with members of the minority PRSC party.
On the other hand, on the Huchi Lora afternoon radio talk show, it was pointed out that either the votes of the Danilo Medina loyalists or those of the PRD politicians are needed. The PRD is divided on the question of whether to vote for a constitutional change that would enable former President Hipolito Mejia to bid for the presidency again.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)
Listin Diario reports that only 15 Senate members were present. To make quorum, 50%+1 of the members of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies need to be present. The minimum quorum would have been met with 17. The ruling PLD party is majority in the Senate, which is leading political analysts to speculate that there is a split within the PLD regarding Art. 104, which focuses on changing the Constitutional provision banning a presidential candidate from running again after participating in two elections. Political commentators say that the absences could be attributed to politicians loyal to former Presidency secretary Danilo Medina taking a step back to force negotiations.
President Leonel Fernandez earlier led talks with members of the minority PRSC party.
On the other hand, on the Huchi Lora afternoon radio talk show, it was pointed out that either the votes of the Danilo Medina loyalists or those of the PRD politicians are needed. The PRD is divided on the question of whether to vote for a constitutional change that would enable former President Hipolito Mejia to bid for the presidency again.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)