I do not doubt that the President has given priority to the national interest but his vision is only his vision and there are many eminent Dominicans who could contribute to a debate which is so important to the future of the country. How can these things be decided without a wider debate on the subject ..it is a quite archaic system.
The concern of most people writing here is not that there is insufficient time for progress but that how can a President or a Government be thrown out in a reasonable time if they are failing in their jobs. Maybe a 3 year term with the right for one re-election may be a simple idea.
The other area needing debate is the length of time the judiciary can serve and what standards are set for them.
So much debate is needed before the best transparent result can be achieved

Better the system in Mexico = 6 years and out forever.
This clown has been the worst ever

Better the system in Mexico = 6 years and out forever.
This clown has been the worst ever

If you have a hardworking, honest president 8 years is perfect. If you have a awful president (Hipolito) 4 years is way too long.

(Sorry I couldn't think of an honest, hardworking president to use as an example)

Lie-onel Fernandez a "Democratic Statesmen" abroad and a Two Bit Dictator at home!

BASTA'

Better Leonel than the idiot who served before him. Hipolito's term was a disaster for both the PRD and the Country.
I'm nota proponent of Leonel's, but he represents the usual type of politician being elected in this country for decades.
It is not the system that is completely at faukt, but rather, the "Players" in each party that are the culprits who propogate the dishonor, sub-forma of integrity and the corruption which is rampant in theis and other Administrations.
Only when the various political parties cease to receive their funding from the public coffers, and depend on individual contribution to their financial support, will there be progress away from the status quo presently existing in the political arena.
A reform of the remuneration of the Legislators, the Ministers, and other government officials istotally necessary to stabilize the political society which rules the country.
There must be a complete reform of the operative political system.

TexasBill

Political donations must be declared and made public in most countries..would cause havoc here !!!

Bill:

You hit the nail right on the head. As long as we fund the political parties, they will continue to act as they always have, with no adverse consequences for them. Well said.

St. James was done in by cement, Oh so they say!

http://www.primicias.com.do/articulo,24128,html

The Rats begin to abadon the PLD-PRSC sinking ship:


http://www.listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=101610

Its "Lie-onel Fernandez" or nobody in 2012!

Read on:

http://laopciondigital.com/index.....idencial-PLD-si-no-es-Leonel.html

I think we have to look further ahead than just the current situation and try to look at what is best for the country ..and whether the current system is the best for this country ..How can any President from one party achieve much when the other party controls the government ?? Maybe the President should be there without any
executive rights except for the power to veto any anti constitutional laws and to dismiss a government under special pre established conditions ..but surely it needs input from a range of experienced people and not just the current political leaders

Failed State...

I am confused....seems that Dominican style of writing is high on elegance and short on meaning and detail. Thought agreement centered on eliminating restrictions on number of consecutive terms a seating president could serve. Reading this article, one is lead to believe that Mr. Fernandez sacrificed his personal interest and more or less agreed to the same agreements already in place. Did I miss something here, or is lack of sleep interfering with my capacity for comprehending Dominican writing?

I am sure these rascals probably sold country and people down river to further their own interest and that of their cronies. This should not have been an agreement between equally greedy and undeserving individuals. Rather, this should have been an agreement put up for a vote by the people.

I really don't like what I see here, and I smell a pack of rats....these guys are to be distrusted by all means. They are incapable of telling the truth or putting interest of the people first.

First let's sign it! Then let's debate it! That is the idiotic counter-logic of these coward dictators!

Never mind the opinion of the majority! Let's make deals to prepetuate the wealth among the political parties and to ensure the survival of the Dominican political parties (GANGS)!

Fk them all! PLD and PRD will sell DR for the freaking Dollar! Life is just more than money or Capitalism!

Although he says 4 yrs is little time to leave a mark, seems to me that Mr. Fernandez has left his mark of corruption, thievery, self-interest and absolute disregard for the lawi n a very short period of time! You get what you pay for.

And you get what you voted for ! and If you paid for it you got what you deserved...

Leonel Fernandez himself has proven that re-election in the Dominican Republic is not a good idea. Although continuity in governement on itself should be a good thing, unfortunately in the Dominican Republic it only leads to more corruption as the current government.of Leonel Fernandez has shown.