Santo Domingo - Social Democrat Mr Hipolito Mejia (59), who has promised to spread the benefits of the Dominican Republic's economic boom to its poor, yesterday claimed outright victory in the presidential election.
The Central Electoral Board, with 90.9 per cent of the vote counted, gave Mr Mejia, a farm economist, 49.6 per cent, just short of the absolute majority needed to avoid a run-off on June 30th.