International

The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, will assume his second term determined to reform the Constitution

The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, will assume his second and last term of government next Friday after achieving re-election last May, and he will do so with a view to a constitutional reform, criticized by many, and a fiscal reform, which has been postponed for years.

Just hours before the results of the May elections were known, Abinader, of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM, liberal and progressive), announced his intention to change the Constitution, which would be the fourth reform of this century, and everything indicates that he will do so.

Trusting that this “is the last” reform, Abinader, a 57-year-old economist, should not have major inconveniences in bringing this proposal of changes in the Magna Carta to fruition, if it is taken into account that the PRM will mostly control the National Congress from Friday, after rising in the elections with 29 of the 32 senators and 146 of the 190 deputies.

The initiative, which will be presented to Congress coinciding with the investiture, has among its main objectives to prevent changes to the rules of the presidential election (limited to two consecutive terms), consolidate the independence of the Public Ministry (Public Prosecutor’s Office), reduce the number of deputies and unify the holding of elections, according to the proposal presented by Abinader a few days ago to the press.

It is not, he said then, “a conjunctural reform driven by partisan political needs or individual aspirations,” but it is “thought for the benefit of the community” and to consolidate the principles of democracy, transparency and institutionality, as “a shielding of democracy.”

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But, at the same time that the Government and the PRM defend the eventual reform, there is also a growing criticism from the opposition, which considers a change of the Magna Carta to be inopportune.

Among the critics is former president Leonel Fernández, who faced Abinader in the elections and who considers that the best way to protect the Constitution is not to touch it, although he already did it in 2010.

In return, the three-time president of the Dominican Republic, whose party, the People’s Force, is the second formation in the National Congress, proposes that the referendum law be approved, which is contemplated in the 2010 Constitution, but still without legislation in this regard.

The questions have also been joined by prosecutors, who fear that, through the reform, the Superior Council of the Public Ministry will be eliminated, which Abinader denies.

Along with the constitutional change, Abinader also has a tax reform in the sights.

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Dominican Republic – with an average annual growth rate of approximately 5% for decades and which, as reported on Tuesday by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), will lead the growth of the region with 5.2% in 2024 – has had a fiscal reform pending for years, a promise already of Abinader’s campaign for the 2020 elections.

In fact, just two months after assuming power for the first time and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Abinader presented a plan with new taxes to face the crisis, but ended up withdrawing it due to criticism.

Representatives of the public sector, the private sector and even international organizations understand that the reform is urgent.
According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), fiscal reform can help the Dominican Republic attract more investment.

However, “beyond the much-needed increase in tax revenues,” the comprehensive tax reform “should include the adoption of a tax rule that establishes limits on long-term public debt, which would increase certainty and help safeguard fiscal sustainability,” says the IMF.

Another “critically important” reform, according to the IMF, is to address the failures of the electricity sector, which come from far away and have generated significant losses, which average between 1% and 2% of annual GDP in the last decade.

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Apart from these issues, Abinader will also have to face long-standing social debts in the next four years, along with the deficient health system, labor informality or insecurity.

And at the same time it will have to face the increasingly chaotic traffic, which every year causes between 3,000 and 4,000 deaths, making the country one of the first places in the world in road deaths.

International

Iran rejects negotiations as tensions escalate with United States

Iran has no intention of entering negotiations and will continue to resist, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday night, dismissing recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about possible talks.

Speaking to state television, Araghchi argued that Washington’s call for negotiations reflects a position of weakness. He added that the Islamic Republic seeks to end the war on its own terms, ensuring that such a conflict does not recur in the future.

Meanwhile, the White House issued a stark warning, stating that Trump would “unleash hell” on Iran if it refuses to accept a deal to end the conflict. Despite Tehran’s rejection, U.S. officials maintained that discussions remain ongoing.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration’s position, warning that failure to acknowledge what she described as Iran’s military defeat would result in even stronger action from Washington.

The increasingly aggressive rhetoric from both sides has diminished hopes for a near-term de-escalation in the conflict, which began following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

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As tensions continue to rise, the prospect of a diplomatic resolution remains uncertain amid conflicting narratives and escalating threats from both governments.

International

Maduro appears again in New York court amid drug trafficking charges

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York federal court on Thursday for the second time since his capture on January 3 during a U.S. military operation in Caracas.

Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, have been held in a detention facility in Brooklyn for nearly three months. Their only previous court appearance took place on January 5, when Maduro declared himself a “prisoner of war” and pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges.

A large police convoy departed the detention center early in the morning, heading toward the federal courthouse in Manhattan, where the hearing was scheduled. Security around the building was reinforced as both supporters and opponents gathered outside.

Among those present was Venezuelan educator Carlos Egana, who expressed frustration and called for justice, reflecting the polarized reactions surrounding the case. At the same time, left-wing activists displayed banners demanding Maduro’s release and criticizing U.S. foreign policy.

Maduro governed Venezuela from 2013 until his removal from power earlier this year. Following his ouster, Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency, initiating a shift in relations with the United States.

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The former leader faces multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and illegal possession of weapons.

During Thursday’s hearing, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time, Maduro’s legal team was expected to push for the dismissal of the case, while also addressing disputes over how his legal defense will be financed amid ongoing U.S. sanctions.

His lawyer, Barry Pollack, has argued that restrictions on accessing Venezuelan state funds could affect Maduro’s right to legal representation, adding another layer of complexity to a case with significant political and international implications.

International

German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.

“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.

Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.

“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.

He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”

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“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.

Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.