Santo Domingo.– The secretary general of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Johnny Pujols, described as “very courageous” this Monday the recent statements by the United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah Francis Campos, who rejected any attempt to manipulate judicial processes for political purposes.
During a press conference held by the political organization, Pujols considered that the diplomat’s statements should serve as a reason for the country to reflect on the functioning of the justice system and the complaints that, as he claimed, the PLD has made for years.
“The whole country saw those statements. They are very brave statements, a warning that should cause concern for everyone,” expressed the PLD leader.
However, he clarified that the organization maintains a position of respect towards diplomatic representatives and ruled out using the statements of the American ambassador for political purposes.
“We are very respectful of the statements of a diplomat, of a foreign representative, therefore, we are not going to politicize the statements, but they are indeed sufficient for us to reflect on them,” he maintained.
Pujols pointed out that various academics, lawyers, and sectors of Dominican society have also expressed similar concerns regarding the functioning of the judicial system and the need to preserve its independence.
The political leader’s statements come after Campos asserted that the manipulation of judicial processes for political purposes undermines the integrity of democratic institutions and reiterated the importance of having a fair, independent, and transparent justice system.
In the same meeting, the PLD secretary general reiterated the organization’s position regarding the PLD leaders who are still facing judicial proceedings, insisting that they are innocent until proven otherwise.
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Likewise, he assured that the party will ensure that their rights and procedural guarantees are fully respected during the trials on the merits, while recalling that the Dominican Constitution enshrines the presumption of innocence as a fundamental right that must be guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation or social status.
