Santo Domingo.- The line to formally greet the President on New Year’s Day became so long on Saturday, that the personalities had to wait as far away as along the side street before entering the National Palace.
Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez was the first to greet president Leonel Fernandez at 1:15 .m., followed by Vatican nuncio Josef Wesolowsky and other senior prelates of the Catholic Church.
The diplomats followed, including United States ambassador Raul H. Yzaguirre, and then officials and military leaders, with the last greeting around 10 p.m.
The First Lady Margarita Cedeño, vice president Rafael Alburquerque and his wife Martha accompanied the President in the ceremony, held in the Cariátides hall of the National Palace.