Dos mas Dos
Encyclopedia
Dos más Dos is the informal term applied to a demagogic
formula, fashioned by the Dominican Revolutionary Party
(PRD) political party in Dominican Republic
. It is credited to the late party leader José Francisco Peña Gómez
.
seat during a single political term, which lasts four years (2+2=4). This is permitted by means of well manipulated Constitutional loopholes orchestrated by the political party who usually holds the executive branch seat (Head of State) and/or has congressional majority (both in upper and lower chambers).
It has been used mostly by the PRD party which coined the term themselves, but it may apply to the other two main Dominican parties.
Demagogy
Demagogy or demagoguery is a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears, vanities and expectations of the public—typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes...
formula, fashioned by the Dominican Revolutionary Party
Dominican Revolutionary Party
The Dominican Revolutionary Party is one of the main political parties of the Dominican Republic. It has a moderate centrist position, social democratic in name. The party's distinctive color is white....
(PRD) political party in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. It is credited to the late party leader José Francisco Peña Gómez
José Francisco Peña Gómez
José Francisco Peña Gómez was a politician from the Dominican Republic. He was the leader of the Dominican Revolutionary Party , a three-time candidate for president of the Dominican Republic and former Mayor of Santo Domingo...
.
Definition
It is designed to allow two (or more) same-party members share a particular congressionalCongress of the Dominican Republic
The Congress of the Dominican Republic is the bicameral legislature of the government of the Dominican Republic, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Both senators and deputies are chosen through direct election...
seat during a single political term, which lasts four years (2+2=4). This is permitted by means of well manipulated Constitutional loopholes orchestrated by the political party who usually holds the executive branch seat (Head of State) and/or has congressional majority (both in upper and lower chambers).
It has been used mostly by the PRD party which coined the term themselves, but it may apply to the other two main Dominican parties.
Mechanism
The Dos más Dos formula works as follows:- During primary elections the party does not come to a conclusion as to who is going to be selected to represent the party in the next elections ballot for a particular SenateSenate of the Dominican RepublicThe Senate is the upper house of the Dominican Republic's bicameral National Congress. The lower house is the Chamber of Deputies....
(or lower representative) chair. This is the result of internal payoffsBriberyBribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and/or electoral "sabotageSabotageSabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
". It can also happen when there's a clear distinction between one candidate with the wealthiest sponsorship and the other who ranks better in the electoral polls. - The "salomonic" solution to this mess is to propose that only one should be registered in the official electoral ballot, and the other should wait for the second mid-term.
- If the party should win the elections for that particular seat, the elected person can run office for only half the time of the elected term.
- When the time comes, he should willingly retire in lieu of some phony excuse. The most alleged excuse is "health reasons"http://www.listindiario.com.do/antes/agosto04/040804/cuerpos/republica/rep17.htm, although some more cynical step down claiming "patriotic" reasons.
- He should immediately propose to Congress his substitute, which in no surprise, is the party member that "tied" with him in the internal primaries for that spot.
- The second candidate takes office.
Flaws
- The main flaw to this "private agreement" strategy is that violates a primary Constitutional precept that states that no congressional seat should be held by a person that no voter elected for in the first place.
- Even since its first use, the vast majority of elected members that used the "2+2" formula refuses to give up their chair when due, claiming that it is a Constitutional violation and a flagrant interference.
- It obviously does not allow a public servant to develop and deploy long (or even short) term legislative plans. The only thing that matters to such candidate is to recoup the campaign "investment" made and to exert maximum political "leverage" for personal profit.
- Recently, due to the personal financial success showed by the "2+2", some PRD members are proposing a "1+1+1+1" alternative, which could allow more "compañerosComradeComrade means "friend", "colleague", or "ally". The word comes from French camarade. The term is frequently used by left-wing organizations around the globe. "Comrade" has often become a stock phrase and form of address. This word has its regional equivalents available in many...
" to savor the good life a public office can bring.