NewsWhore
07-15-2010, 03:10 PM
With President Leonel Fernandez taking an ambiguous stance, discussions continue on whether or not he can or will run in the 2012 presidential election. President Leonel Fernandez told journalists at a recent luncheon at the Presidential Palace that the Dominican people would have the last word on his running in the 2012 presidential election.
Nevertheless, Art. 124 of the 2010 Constitution expressly bans consecutive re-election, so a modification of the Constitution would be needed. The ruling PLD party now has the majority needed for this after its overwhelming win in the 16 May Congressional election. The PLD holds all the Senate seats except for La Altagracia, which was won by its close ally Amable Aristy Castro of the PRSC.
Nonetheless, senior government official Freddy Perez says that Art. 124 of the 2010 Constitution is not applicable to President Fernandez because he was elected in the framework of the previous Constitution. However, the "never again" clause in the previous Constitution meant that a President could only be re-elected once.
Meanwhile, large billboards are being posted in Santo Domingo, subtly reminding citizens that it is President Fernandez's destiny to continue as President.
Others say that the debate is intentional, as a way of distracting citizens and the press from the real issues that have not been effectively tackled by the Fernandez administration in its two consecutive terms in power.
In today's Clave newspaper, political analyst Rosario Espinal speculates that President Fernandez's reply to journalists at the Palace luncheon was a way of buying time in order to prepare for running in 2012. Other aspirants in the party, with the exception of Fernandez dissident Danilo Medina, have said they will not campaign for the pre-candidacy until Fernandez has announced his decision.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Nevertheless, Art. 124 of the 2010 Constitution expressly bans consecutive re-election, so a modification of the Constitution would be needed. The ruling PLD party now has the majority needed for this after its overwhelming win in the 16 May Congressional election. The PLD holds all the Senate seats except for La Altagracia, which was won by its close ally Amable Aristy Castro of the PRSC.
Nonetheless, senior government official Freddy Perez says that Art. 124 of the 2010 Constitution is not applicable to President Fernandez because he was elected in the framework of the previous Constitution. However, the "never again" clause in the previous Constitution meant that a President could only be re-elected once.
Meanwhile, large billboards are being posted in Santo Domingo, subtly reminding citizens that it is President Fernandez's destiny to continue as President.
Others say that the debate is intentional, as a way of distracting citizens and the press from the real issues that have not been effectively tackled by the Fernandez administration in its two consecutive terms in power.
In today's Clave newspaper, political analyst Rosario Espinal speculates that President Fernandez's reply to journalists at the Palace luncheon was a way of buying time in order to prepare for running in 2012. Other aspirants in the party, with the exception of Fernandez dissident Danilo Medina, have said they will not campaign for the pre-candidacy until Fernandez has announced his decision.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)