SANTO DOMINGO.- President Leonel Fernandez, upon introducing his bill to amend the Constitution today in the Senate, said no one can be perpetuated in power not now or in the future.

He affirmed the new Constitution he proposes will mark the start of what he considers a democratic revolution, with an increasingly democratic and participative Magna Charta. "I cannot hide the fact that I have had to meditate and reflect much on this, trying to be as comprehensive, wide-reaching and plural as possible for the well-being of democracy in the Dominican Republic.”

Fernandez, citing in that regard article 49 that refers a sitting President’s possibility of opting for another term, said the proposed amendment must make iy easy for new leaderships emerge and not reject those already consolidated.

The new text also proposes the unification of the presidential and congressional elections in 2012, and the mayors and legislators could seek office again two years later.

Another novel aspect proposed is a court of constitutional guarantees, as part of the Supreme Court, as well as two extend the powers of the National Magistrate Council, so it doesn’t only designate the judges.

On the Central Electoral Board, it proposes dividing it in two: Electoral Arbitration and Administrative.

Speaking in Congress Fernandez defended his right to modify the Magna Charta through the Revisory Assembly, since it’s the only legally recognized procedure,as a Constituent Assembly would only be equivalent to holding elections to choose the people who would have only the faculty to modify the Constitution.

He said the members of Congress were elected legally and the Constitution grants them the faculty to legislate to modify the Constitution.

Fernandez handed the bill to National Assembly president Reynaldo Pared in the presence of the Commission jurists who drafted it, legislators and Government officials.