Dominican Republic leader, lawmakers barter reelection

Santo Domingo.- Senator Sonia Mateo revealed Thursday that ruling PLD party lawmakers of the faction headed by former president Leonel Fernandez were promised a repeat of their candidacy if they voted for legislation to amend the constitution which paves the way for president Danilo Medina’s reelection bid.

"Well, big deals were made, that is one, but there are other important agreements…," Mateo said when asked it the lawmakers who support Fernandez were promised the PLD’s candidacies.

"For example what was carried out is the American system, which is very important, for example Medina gets four more years and cannot come back anymore," the lawmakers said after the Senate vote that approved a call to convene the National Assembly, in which she affirms prevailed PLDs unity.

"Here the party’s sensibility unity and has reigned, and, well, we are happy. We all had a very deep uncertainty, this was a national uncertainty both as a colleague, as a family, but these have now been largely resolved,” Mateo said.