NewsWhore
09-21-2009, 04:00 PM
Dominican citizens will not be able to sue the government for violation of the Constitution. The PLD and PRD political parties agreed to remove this prerogative from the Constitution. The political parties justified the decision on the grounds that "not every citizen enjoys this right. In order to try the action on unconstitutional issues, one must necessarily have a legitimate and judicially protected interest," as reported in Diario Libre.
The party leaders also eliminated the right of citizens to avail themselves of quality assets and services that those who suffer injuries or are prejudiced by poor quality assets or services have the right to be compensated according to the law. The legislators say that this is not constitutional material.
The agreement includes the unification of the elections in the same year but on separate dates.
The President, Vice-President and the legislature will be elected on the third Sunday of May and the municipal authorities will be elected on the third Sunday of February. Moreover, it was agreed to set a minimum number of member and judges for the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Higher Electoral Court, in contrast to what was approved during the first reading.
The JCE will be made up of no fewer than 5 members and the Court will be made up of no fewer than three judges and two substitutes, and this is justified because "it is not convenient to set in the Constitution the number of members of the Central Electoral Board. Exceptional political circumstances could force changes it its composition." This means there is no limit on the number of the judges.
The two parties modified numeral 2 of Article 87 that condemns all forms of corruption in State bodies, establishing "that in the same way that people who give advantages to their associates, relatives, relations, friends or partners will be punished" was changed to eliminate the words, 'relations, friends or partners'.
The political parties also agreed to eliminate Article 89, number 4. This says that "the senators and deputies elected are not bound by an imperative mandate, they are free and independent to take decisions in the affairs submitted to their consideration, they will act at all times with obedience to the sacred duty of representing the people that elected them before whom they must present accounts." This was done with the observation that "it-the article-weakens the political organization that postulates the senator or deputy. Legislators should be guided by the their party directives."
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
The party leaders also eliminated the right of citizens to avail themselves of quality assets and services that those who suffer injuries or are prejudiced by poor quality assets or services have the right to be compensated according to the law. The legislators say that this is not constitutional material.
The agreement includes the unification of the elections in the same year but on separate dates.
The President, Vice-President and the legislature will be elected on the third Sunday of May and the municipal authorities will be elected on the third Sunday of February. Moreover, it was agreed to set a minimum number of member and judges for the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Higher Electoral Court, in contrast to what was approved during the first reading.
The JCE will be made up of no fewer than 5 members and the Court will be made up of no fewer than three judges and two substitutes, and this is justified because "it is not convenient to set in the Constitution the number of members of the Central Electoral Board. Exceptional political circumstances could force changes it its composition." This means there is no limit on the number of the judges.
The two parties modified numeral 2 of Article 87 that condemns all forms of corruption in State bodies, establishing "that in the same way that people who give advantages to their associates, relatives, relations, friends or partners will be punished" was changed to eliminate the words, 'relations, friends or partners'.
The political parties also agreed to eliminate Article 89, number 4. This says that "the senators and deputies elected are not bound by an imperative mandate, they are free and independent to take decisions in the affairs submitted to their consideration, they will act at all times with obedience to the sacred duty of representing the people that elected them before whom they must present accounts." This was done with the observation that "it-the article-weakens the political organization that postulates the senator or deputy. Legislators should be guided by the their party directives."
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)