​The re-election machinery is underway

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - In Brief 19 May 2019 by Pavel Isa

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The re-election machinery is underway Although, as has been discussed in recent reports and briefs, a formal proposal to amend the Constitution allowing President Medina to opt for a third term has not been sent to Congress, the political machinery that promotes re-election is in full swing. Many members of Congress loyal to President Medina and even some government ministers openly promote the amendment and a third term for Medina. Moreover, for some weeks, demonstrations have been organized in support of Medina. This past weekend was a very active one for the supporters of the re-election. Massive meetings were held in several cities and in Santo Domingo. The closest allies of Medina were actively involved in the rallies, including the Minister of the Presidency, perhaps the closest person to President Medina, the Minister of Public Works, President Medina’s speaker and several members of Congress. There is no doubt about Medina’s intention: he wants to run again. If the proposal for the amendment of the Constitution has not been formally presented to Congress, it is for two reasons. First, the votes in Congress to pass the amendment aren’t there yet. Rumors say that they are making very intense efforts to bend resistance and buy wills. The second is that the business leadership, as well as the Trump Administration and perhaps the governments of other countries with weight, have not taken a position. Elements that gravitate are the degrees in which corruption has escalated in recent years, concerns over the high concentration of power in the hands of Medina and the PLD, and the period of high growth and stability that the country has experienced under PLD, of which t...