Hipolito Mejia’s statements when interviewed by "El Mundo" newspaper during his recent visit to Madrid, Spain have caused an upheaval among politicians, both of his party and of the opposition. Mejía, who according to most polls is by a comfortable margin the most likely next president of the DR, said when interviewed on why he is doing so well in the polls: "What is most important is that I have three very special characteristics that Latin American politicians, and much less Dominican politicians don’t have: that I work hard (18 hours a day); and I know how to handle personal finances and those of the state; and I am honest. 99.9% of Latin American and Dominican politicians are corrupt. I am not corrupt and the Dominican people have understood that." "I would like to distance myself from the present Latin American leaders. I am an atypical politician and I would like to start a new era in Latin America. Nobody has the right to rob the money of the people nor to create poverty. If I am president, I would like to leave an indelible mark in the hearts of Dominicans that there can be and there should be politicians with morals."
