The President snubs backslappers in tyrant-era tradition

Santo Domingo. – In a brief 21-minute National Palace ceremony which broke with tradition, president Danilo Medina and vice president Margarita Cedeño on Tuesday received New Year greetings from diplomats, international organization representatives and Catholic Church dignitaries.

Unlike the traditional ceremonies held from the tyrant Rafael Trujillo’s era to the previous administration headed by Leonel Fernandez , neither government ministers, nor military leaders or the heads of other agencies were invited to the event, hosted for only 36 guests.

Also snubbed were business leaders and moguls, and ruling PLD party senior leaders, as well as people who seek access to the chief executive for personal reasons.