Conservative billionaire Pinera sworn in as president of Chile
Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera was sworn in on Sunday to his second term as president of Chile, replacing socialist Michelle Bachelet in the office for the second time in eight years.
An emotional Bachelet helped Pinera put on the sash of office, gave him a kiss and then left the Congress with members of her government. Mr Pinera, who was president from 2010-2014, has promised to stimulate growth and create jobs.
He is assuming the presidency just as Chile’s economy is showing signs of rebounding from a period of sluggish growth due to low prices for copper, the country’s biggest export.
“The good times are coming,” his supporters chanted after he was sworn in.
Ms Bachelet was cheered by supporters as she capped a second term in office in which she saw through an ambitious package of reforms aimed at eliminating the institutional legacy of the 19731990 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
Leaders from neighbouring Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Peru - as well as the former king of Spain Juan Carlos - attended the inauguration ceremony.
Later, the billionaire president chose a shelter for at-risk children in a depressed district of Santiago to announce his first measures as president, the reform of state protection for vulnerable children