Santo Domingo. – The executive vice president of the Institutionality and Justice Foundation (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, expressed his concern in light of the recent decision of the Constitutional Court that declared unconstitutional the articles 156 and 157 of Law 20-23Organic of the Electoral Regime.
This ruling eliminates the obligation that the independent candidacies are presented exclusively bypolitical groups formally constituted.
Castaños Guzman warned about the implications of this rulingstating that it could weaken the party system and jeopardize progress in consolidating the internal democracy of political parties.
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“This decision can encourage the emergence of spontaneous groups outside of institutional control, which would negatively impact public trust and the cohesion of the political system,” he noted.
The jurist called for a national dialogue to strengthen democracy internal of the political organizations and guarantee an adequate framework that preserves citizen trust.
In his opinion, the dismantling of the party system could lead to electoral processes less representative and transparent, which would mean a setback in efforts to strengthen democratic institutionality.
Finjus emphasized the relevance of political parties as pillars of democratic stabilityurging that they be preserved as essential actors within the constitutional mechanism.
“The parties are guarantors of democratic lifeauxiliaries of the State and promoters of authentic and participatory representation,” he concluded. Castaños Guzmán.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a robust and transparent political systemwhich responds to the needs of citizens and supports the democratic development of the Dominican Republic.
