Charlie Mariotti Jr. questioned the delay in publishing changes to the Penal Code and cast doubt on the Government’s handling of the new regulation’s entry into force. The deputy warned that, as long as the reforms do not appear in the Official Gazette, the deadline to apply the original text of the Penal Code could be running out.
The legislator argued that the debate remains open because the law amending provisions on freedom of expression, defamation and criminal liability of companies was enacted, but had not yet been officially published at the time of his statements. That situation, in his view, leaves room for the previous rules of the Penal Code to come into force.
“The saga of the Penal Code in the Dominican Republic continues,” he said, insisting that the country needed clarity on which version would be in force first. His warning focused on articles related to insult, defamation and corporate liability, issues that have sparked strong public debate.
Penal Code and vacatio legis
The concern of Charlie Mariotti Jr. is linked to the discussion about the vacatio legis, the period between a law’s enactment and its entry into force. In this case, the deputy has insisted that the allotted time is short to address observations from jurists, journalists and other sectors that have objected to parts of the text.
According to the legislative context cited in recent days, Mariotti has promoted proposals to extend the entry into force of the Penal Code by six months and allow more time to review the contested articles. This approach aims to prevent the text from being applied without additional adjustments.
Charlie Mariotti Jr.’s Questions About the Government
The politician posed a direct question about the reasons for the delay and asked the Executive for explanations. “What is the Government seeking?”, he asked, arguing that a law already enacted should not remain unpublished if its implementation is imminent.
The case keeps the Penal Code at the center of the debate, especially due to the impact its provisions would have on the press, public criticism and business activity. For sectors following the process, the essential question now is whether the changes will be published soon or if the country will first come into force with the original text.
Penal Code, Congress and Next Steps
The discussion about the Penal Code has also put pressure on Congress, which faces demands to review provisions before their application. In that scenario, Charlie Mariotti Jr. insists that there is still room to correct errors and avoid legal conflicts or contradictory interpretations.
The outcome will depend on when the reforms are formalized and whether Congress manages to resolve pending observations in time. For now, the core of the debate remains the same: Penal Code, its publication and the real scope of the changes demanded by Charlie Mariotti Jr..
