Recent activities taken on by President Leonel Fernandez have surprised many observers. It seems, according to El Caribe, that the other day, when Fernandez spoke at the FNP party’s 25th anniversary, he displayed more emotion than usual in his speeches. He was both upset and very energetic. What was even more surprising was the fact that he was not even supposed to talk at the celebration of the party, which is allied to the ruling PLD. While his comments started off calmly enough, when the President got started he pounded the podium three times with his index finger to emphasize his points that the Dominican Republic was not a failed state, and rejecting any idea of invading the nation and fusing it with Haiti.
Later on, last Thursday, the President attended the inauguration of Santo Domingo’s new Chinatown area and a man called out: “Mr. President, I have plantains but no money for oil or eggs.” He then showed the President a bag containing plantains. Security agents stopped the man from getting too close to the President but Fernandez stopped them and talked to the man, apparently giving him some assistance. He must have been in a good mood since he laughed out loud as Rosa Ng explained how to say the party slogan – Forward we go – in Chinese.