Ex president expected to abandon politics and ‘hoe turnips’

Santo Domingo.- Former president Hipolito Mejia on Tuesday reiterated his pledge to retire to "plant cassava in Gurabo" if president Danilo Medina repeats as presidential candidate for Dominican Republic’s ruling PLD party.

Speaking with reporters at a rally of the opposition PRM party, Mejia said he’d rather face former president Leonel Fernandez as the PLD candidate, but not Medina, “who enjoys a high popularity.”

It’s the second time Mejía says he would retire to his hometown farm in Santiago if Medina opts for reelection.

Mejia, president from 2000 to 2004, added that while reelection isn’t bad, prefers the US system that allows a second bid and then never again.