Weekly Report - 15 January 2009 (ISSN 1741-7422)

Congress began debating the most profound constitutional reform package in the Dominican Republic for a generation this week. The proposed reform, drawn up by the government of President Leonel Fernández, would more than double the length of the constitution from 122 to 273 articles. It advocates, inter alia, an amendment allowing a president who has served two straight terms to stand again after a four-year hiatus, and a thorough shake-up of the judicial system. It also includes recommendations to enlarge both chambers of congress and re-synchronise legislative and presidential elections, which have taken place two years apart since 1996.