Legal hurdles could impact Abinader’s second term swearing-in venue

Santo Domingo.- Politician and lawyer Rafael Paz has raised concerns that President Luis Abinader’s plan to swear in for his second term at the National Theater could face significant challenges.

Paz highlighted on Tuesday that adhering to the regulations for holding National Assembly meetings presents a major obstacle. According to Article 4 of the National Assembly’s regulations, the Assembly is required to convene in its designated hall within the National Congress Palace.

Article 4 stipulates that “the ordinary headquarters of the National Assembly and joint meetings of the chambers is the National Assembly Hall located in the National Congress Palace in Santo Domingo.” It further specifies that meetings are to be held in this hall, except in cases of natural disasters or force majeure, where the Assembly may meet in one of the chambers or another agreed-upon location.

Paz pointed out that changing this regulation would necessitate a formal call to the National Assembly and require a two-thirds majority vote to amend the regulations, as per constitutional procedures.