SANTO DOMINGO: Economist Danilo Medina was sworn in as the Dominican Republic’s new president Thursday and pushed for a pact against poverty as he assumed the post.
The 60-year-old economist, who belongs to the Dominican Liberation Party of outgoing President Leonel Fernandez, won the May 20 election on a promise to raise the Carribean country’s standard of living.
“I launch an appeal to all sectors to come together and form a pact to lift one and a half million Dominicans out of poverty over the next four years,” Medina said at his swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly.
“I came here not driven by a desire for power but by my unwavering commitment to serve my people.”
The high cost of living, unemployment, corruption and a soaring crime rate were among the top election issues in this nation that shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
The Dominican Republic dodged the worst effects of the 2008 global economic crisis, but remains mired in poverty.