EL RETRACTO LEGAL EXIGE QUE EL PROPIETARIO REALICE UN ACTO DE ENAJENACIÓN DEL DOMINIO A FAVOR DE TERCERO DIFERENTE DEL TITULAR DEL DERECHO DE ADQUISICIÓN PREFERENTE.

Abstract

Majority doctrine holds that the retrospective right of first refusal, as a general rule, is given in the case of alienation through sale or dation in payment and that, as an exception, it is sometimes granted for other types of alienations or acts on a similar footing. However, while the essence of the retrospective right of first refusal lies in the non-gratuitous ex lege acquisition by the person exercising the right, modelled upon a previous acquisition, there are no obstacles to establishing a retrospective right of first refusal in all non-gratuitous alienations where the price is expendable or not absolutely personal. Action to exercise a retrospective right of first refusal must necessarily be taken against the buyer, who, should the plaintiff win, is the person who will be replaced by the plaintiff as a party to the contract. Thus the person exercising the right needs to sue the seller also so that the procedural relationship is duly constituted. For example, this would have to happen if the exercise of the right entails the annulment of the sale contract and recovery of the right by the seller, in which case it would be the seller who would have to make the transfer to the person who is exercising the right of first refusal.