Opposition candidates file appeal against state of emergency to higher court
Opposition candidates running for senate seats filed an appeal before the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) demanding that the state of emergency be revoked. They argue the current extension violates the law and Dominican Constitution and their fundamental rights.
The requesting candidates are Congresswoman Faride Raful, Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), who is running for the senate seat of the National District; Benny Metz, who is running on behalf of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) to represent San Cristóbal in the Senate; Jonathan Liriano (PRM), who is running to represent the province of Santo Domingo in the Senate; and Carolin Mercedes (PRM), who running to represent La Vega in the Senate.
They request the TSA to nullify the extension. They base their case that the extension was for 17 days when the previous extension was for 12 days. Law 21-18 on states of emergency specifies that the extension should not be longer than the previous period. Legal advisor to the President, Flavio Dario Espinal says that the opposition politicians are misinterpreting the law. He says the law refers to the original period of the national state of emergency, that in this case was for 25 days.
The TSA is expected to hear the case in the coming days and immediately decide the matter.
The opposition politicians speculate that the government wants to find more Covid-19 cases to scare the population away from voting in the 5 July 2020 presidential election. In the Dominican Republic large voting turn out is needed to win the election because it requires a candidate to receive 50%+1 of the vote to win in a first round. If the 50%+1 vote is not achieved, then a second round will be necessary on 26 July, at a high cost to the country. All leading polls indicate the PRM would also win the second round.
Source: DR1, Hoy
June 20, 2020
Category: DR News |