Dominican Congress Grapples with Key Bills: Penal Code Reform and Referendum on the Horizon

Dominican Republic's National Congress Debates Key Bills: Penal Code and Referendum Considered Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – On May 30th, 2025, political commentator Héctor Marte offered insights into the progress of several crucial bills before the Dominican Republic's National Congress. Speaking on the popular morning show "Despierta con CDN," Marte focused on the challenges and potential solutions for passing these bills, notably the long-delayed Penal Code. Marte expressed optimism, stating, "I believe the appropriate path has been taken to approve these important projects." He emphasized the need for collaboration between the legislative branches, highlighting the roles of Senate President Ricardo de los Santos and Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco in navigating this process. The discussion also touched upon the possibility of using a referendum to address public opinion on controversial issues, such as the abortion debate. Marte suggested that this approach could help resolve the impasse on the Penal Code, which has been stalled for some time due to disagreements over this particular issue. "If the order were reversed, and the referendum project were approved first, then the Penal Code could be addressed later," he explained. This approach could allow for a more informed and potentially less contentious debate on the Penal Code. The successful passage of these bills would mark a significant step forward for the Dominican Republic.