Senators and deputies put aside political differences in the last session of the legislature
Tears, hugs, complaints and emotional words are the portrait of the last session of the legislature held by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, respectively, last Thursday.
The political differences of the congressmen, visible when voting for a particular initiative, were imperceptible when they finished their turn, which they took advantage of to say goodbye as legislators.
Yván Lorenzo, spokesman for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) in the Upper House, after thanking his family and colleagues for the friendship and respect provided during his four years in the bicameral body, tearfully remembered his late former assistant Adilka Féliz, whom he described as a great professional and whom he will always remember.
The senator who attacked the ruling party the most extended his most sincere apologies to anyone he had offended during his four-year term as a legislator. He urged Johnson Encarnación (PRM-Elías Piña), the senator who will replace him, to follow up on initiatives he has submitted in favor of his district.
Likewise, Valverde’s representative in the Upper House, Martin Nolasco (PRM), highlighted that he had to overcome two processes to become a senator.
“The Valverde province cast a vote on two occasions, not just once, this humble servant had to win twice to be able to sit in this chair, but that’s life,” he stressed, after specifying that out of 220 sessions held in the Senate he attended 210.
He said he won’t lay off his security staff, because he never had any.
José Manuel del Castillo Saviñón (PLD-Barahona) also addressed the plenary to acknowledge his former electoral competitor.
“I am leaving this position to a friend who, despite the fact that we faced each other for the Senate seat in the last electoral process, is a person who can count on my support,” he said in reference to Moisés Ayala (PRI).
He pointed out that as an opposition senator, when he has had to criticize, he has done so; and when he has had to side with the interests of the Dominican people, he has done so as well.
Similarly, Faride Raful (PRM-Distrito Nacional) explained that she is happy and grateful to the senators and the technical team of the Upper House, where she achieved sufficient consensus to promote projects that guarantee the economic and social growth of the country.
He said that he had to win the most difficult seat, the National District, in the almost 20 years that his party had not done so. “I say goodbye to my eight years of legislative work. With emotion and great satisfaction, for what I have learned and what we have humbly contributed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those who have supported us, those who have criticized us and those who have collaborated honestly to build,” he said.
Former Senate President Eduardo Estrella (DxC-Santiago), who also said goodbye to his colleagues and employees, expressed his satisfaction because he considered that he had fulfilled his duty, representing Santiago with dignity, for which he promoted valuable initiatives, for the benefit of all its inhabitants.
For his part, Ramón Pimentel (PRM-Montecristi) said that he is saying goodbye “not to return” and urged his fellow PRM members not to harm that organization.
Between kisses and hugs, Milcíades Franjul (PRM-Peravia), upon saying goodbye to her colleagues, promised that each of them will be in a book she will write.
In the Chamber of Deputies
The farewell to reformist deputy Máximo Castro as a legislator was one of the most emotional moments.
The veteran stressed that he has been a legislator for 38 consecutive years and in the same political party, despite the weaknesses that the organization has had. He recalled that he was not going to aspire to be a deputy, but “circumstances” “forced” him to do so.
“If I don’t say this, I’m not myself: I really felt unprotected by our allies. They didn’t protect me. And I made a mistake. That mistake was perhaps what cost me my job. I feel like I don’t have the job, but I feel like I’m a moral deputy of District 1 of Santiago, because my voters don’t see my pockets or my wallet,” he said when justifying his defeat in the last elections.
The farewell of PRM deputy Carlos de Jesús provoked laughter among his colleagues, as he indicated that from that moment on he is unemployed and is available. “I want to make it clear that from today I am unemployed and that I am at the service of all of you,” he stressed.
Through tears, Deputy Hamlet Melo (FP) said that during his 14 years of legislative work he always worked in accordance with the Constitution and the best interests of the province of La Altagracia and the entire country.
Likewise, Sócrates Pérez (PLD) stressed that it has been a great honor to work alongside each colleague and said that it is not a goodbye, but rather see you later.
Congressmen will leave their seats after losing in the last elections or not running for various reasons
Quadrennium
Senators and deputies began their congressional term on August 16, 2020, and end on August 15.
Unit
The last session of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies was dominated by an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
