Broad Front condemns Senate initiative to eliminate independent candidacies

Santo Domingo. – The Frente Amplio (FA) described as regressive and undemocratic the legislative initiative promoted in the National Congress that intends to repeal articles 156, 157 and 158 of Law no. 20-23 of Electoral Regime, with the aim of suppressing the possibility of independent candidacies, despite the TC/0788/24 Sentence of the Constitutional Court, which ordered to establish a legal framework for its regulation.

The Frente Amplio recalled that the aforementioned ruling of the Constitutional Court represents a significant step forward for Dominican democracy, by recognizing the right of citizens to be elected without the obligation to belong to a political party, thus expanding the mechanisms of political participation and strengthening the plural character of the democratic system.

“Trying to eliminate independent candidacies is a clear democratic setback, which, instead of expanding citizen participation, seeks to restrict it to protect the privileges of traditional parties,” said Maria Teresa Cabrera, president of the Frente Amplio.

She warned that the argument that independent candidacies could generate “disorder” on the ballot lacks democratic basis. “Modern democracies are strengthened with more participation and more options for citizens, not with restrictions that limit the right to choose and be elected,” said María Teresa Cabrera.

If such a blunder were to materialize, the Broad Front announced that it will open its spaces for political participation so that citizens and social leaders who aspire to positions of popular election can present their candidacies using the party’s ballot, as long as they respond to ethical and moral profiles.

The Broad Front indicated that these conditions seek to ensure that those who aspire to public office do so with responsibility, honor, and social commitment, contributing to raising the quality of political representation in the country.

Finally, the organization called on the National Congress to respect the Constitutional Court’s ruling and to legislate to guarantee independent candidacies, instead of eliminating this figure from the electoral system.