Talking Constitutional Reform: The Political Parties

The first of Porfirio Lobo Sosa's dialogues over constitutional reforms happened Saturday with half hour statements by individuals representing political parties and organizations. All were agreed, Tiempo reported, that changes were necessary to move from the current elected democracy to a more participative democracy, and all agreed that some form of participatory democracy is the goal.

Attending were representatives of the five organized political parties (Partido Liberal, Partido Nacional, Unificación Democratica,Partido de Inovación y Unidad, Partido Democrata Christiana), the Electoral Tribunal,and seven political parties in the process of formation (the Frente Ampio de Resistencia Popular, Frente Amplio Politico Electoral, the Partido Convergencia Nacional, the Partido Transformación de Honduras, the Movimiento Tendencia Revolucionaria, Nueva Democracia, Movimiento Anticorrupción).

La Tribuna reported that a large number of the delegates spoke in favor of convening a National Constituyent Assembly, though they were not joined by representatives of the National and Liberal parties. Individual speakers touched on a number of themes including universal heath care, anti-corruption, jobs, land distribution, security, and prosecuting those responsible for the coup d'etat.

So change is in the wind. It will be interesting to see how Congress perverts these suggestions into methods for maintaining the status quo.