Cristina Fernandez was sworn in on Monday as president of
Argentina for a four-year period in a ceremony in the nation's
legislature attended by heads of state and special guests.
"I swear before God, the nation and on the holy scriptures that
I will perform my duties as president of the nation," she said in
the ceremony that formally makes her president.
Following her oath she received the presidential sash from
Nestor Kirchner, the outgoing president who is also her
husband.
In her first speech as president, Fernandez praised her husband,
saying she receives the nation in much better shape than when he
took power on May 25, 2003. She said he had rebuilt the nation
following political and economic turbulence during his four and a
half years of rule.
Fernandez, 54, said she backed Kirchner's convictions: defending
Argentines' interests as the basis for development.
Attending ceremony were the following presidents: Brazil's Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolivia's President Evo Morales, Chile's
Michelle Bachelet, Colombia's Alvaro Uribe, Ecuador's Rafael
Correa, Paraguay's Nicanor Duarte, Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez and
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
Also attending were Mexico's Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa;
Spain's crown prince Felipe de Borbon, Canada's Governor General
Michael Jean, and United States Labor Minister Eliane Chao.
After the ceremony, Fernandez will go to the Casa Rosada seat of
government and then take part in the Mayo Place Democracy
Festival.
(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2007)
