Santo Domingo.– Should police and military personnel have the right to vote in presidential elections? That was the question we took to the streets to hear the citizens’ opinions, and for the most part, the responses were negative.
One of those consulted expressed a blunt rejection of the participation of members of the Armed Forces in electoral processes, considering that their main function should be to guarantee order and remain on the sidelines of partisan politics.
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“The Armed Forces cannot vote. And with these corrupt politicians, even less so,” stated the citizen, who identified himself as Belén, who maintained that the situation would be different if there were, in his opinion, a serious government.
The man further questioned the handling that, in his perception, has been given to military and police institutions, and criticized that some members of those organizations could end up linked to criminal acts.
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“The Armed Forces are to guarantee public order,” he stated, while noting that they should not get involved in political activities.
During his speech, he also strongly questioned the country’s security situation and the actions of some police officers toward the civilian population.
“Those generals stealing and selling drugs, it cannot be, it cannot be,” he expressed, referring to cases that, in his opinion, affect the image of the military institutions.
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The citizen also referred to the police officers involved in violent acts and maintained that the responsibility must extend to those who give the orders.
“If there were a serious government, that colonel who ordered it, his shirt would be taken off right there, it would be taken off,” he stated.
Likewise, he considered that police officers do not always act on their own initiative, but may be responding to orders from their superiors.
“Because the police officer doesn’t kill because he wants to, because he is ordered to, he has someone who commands him,” he maintained.
Out of a total of 50 citizens consulted, 47 considered that police and military personnel should not have the right to vote in presidential elections, while only three were in favor. A large majority is against the electoral participation of members of the armed forces, considering that they should remain on the sidelines of partisan politics.
