The first time in nine years, the National Review Assembly convened at 2:00 pm in Punta Cana today. The session was to review the Republic’s Constitution reform project.
Introduced by the Government, the reform contains nine articles. The focus is primarily on election unification and preserving the presidential election rules.
The reform also suggests reducing the number of deputies and ensuring independence in the appointment of the Attorney General’s Office head. The selection of the Public Ministry by the National Council of the Judiciary and other similar points are also included.
President Luis Abinader and other Government’s institutions initiated the Review Assembly. The president views it as crucial to modify these nine articles, including one that aims to secure the Public Ministry’s independence.
The Review Assembly last convened in 2015. The aim was to allow the presidential re-election of the former president, Danilo Medina.
In 2015, the 2010 Constitution was approved during Leonel Fernández’s government. It disallowed consecutive re-election, yet Medina backed its revision to alter article 124. It enabled an incumbent president to seek a direct second term.
There are strict rules governing the Review Assembly. They dictate how the reforms to the articles in questions should be analyzed, presented, and approved. The Constitution’s Articles 81, 166, 167, 169, 171, 178, 179, 209, 268, 274 will be under scrutiny. Additionally, a general provision like article 278 is to be reviewed and transitional provisions are to be added.
One of the reform project’s proposals is to unify the elections for the 2032 process.
The media reported that the reform project aims for rapid endorsement. The goal is to finish a constitution reform in five days, by next Sunday. That same day, the reading of the complete constitution could begin. President Abinader is expected to attend the congress and proclaim the new constitution.