Abinader Begins Second Term as Dominican Leader

Dominican Republic leader Luis Abinader assumed his second four-year term as president, vowing economic growth and a set of social reforms while criticizing the aftermath of the recent elections in Venezuela.

Abinader, a 57-year-old former businessman, clinched another term when he secured 58% of the vote in May on a pro-business platform with a tough stance on corruption and barring migrants from neighboring conflict-hit Haiti.

"There is no magical solution for success but we have a simple recipe to achieve it," Abinander said in a live streamed ceremony, pledging to promote private investment to grow the economy and strengthen transparency and efficiency in public spending.

The Dominican Republic, the largest economy off the continental Americas, aims to double its $113-billion gross domestic product by 2036.

Guests from the political and private sectors - including the presidents of Panama, Uruguay and Paraguay - dressed in white gathered for the event at the capital's National Theater.

Abinader said he would present reforms to lawmakers looking to improve labor rights, social protection, ensure the electoral body's independence and prevent future presidents from exceeding the two-term limit defined in the constitution.

Abinader's Modern Revolutionary Party won a strong majority in both upper and lower houses, allowing them to easily pass laws.

"We do not believe in strongman personalities or in messianic leaders who want to hold a country's destiny in their hands," he said, before criticizing political violence and a lack of political transparency following Venezuela's July 28 vote.

The Dominican Republic is among several nations Venezuela has cut relations with due to its opposition to Venezuelan authorities' ratification of President Nicolas Maduro as victor.

Abinader also vowed to boost security by training 20,000 more police over the next four years.