Above: Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina (Photo: OP)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Danilo Medina is now officially the president of the Dominican Republic, following a ceremony today in Santo Domingo.

Medina was sworn in by Dr Reynaldo Pared Perez, the president of the National Assembly, for a term from 2012 to 2016.

He was joined at the ceremony by his wife, Candy Montilla, and his three daughters.

Fernandez was greeted at the front of the National Congress, where he received a 21-gun salute from the Dominican Republic’s armed forces.

The outgoing President, Leonel Fernandez, and his wife, who is the country’s new Vice President, were received by outgoing Vice President Rafael Albuquerque at the ceremony.

Guests included Haiti President Michel Martelly, Honduran President Porfirio Lobo and Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain.

Medina, of the Dominican Liberation Party, won the country’s national election in late May.