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Castro at her inauguration: "I pledge to be loyal to the Republic"
Photo: LUIS ACOSTA / AFP
The left-wing politician Xiomara Castro became the first woman in the history of Honduras to take office as president.
"I vow to be loyal to the Republic and to follow and enforce the Constitution and its laws," said the 62-year-old at the swearing-in ceremony at the stadium in the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Long queues formed in front of the stadium because tens of thousands of people wanted to attend the inauguration.
US Vice President Kamala Harris, Spanish King Felipe VI.
and Taiwan's Vice President William Lai attended the inauguration ceremony.
Castro drove into the National Stadium in an open car past cheering crowds.
Castro succeeds President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was not allowed to run after two terms in office.
"Twelve years of struggle, twelve years of resistance," Castro tweeted, referring to the right-wing National Party (PN), which had led the government for 12 years.
"Today the government of the people begins."
Castro had won the November 28 election by a clear margin.
Their victory was only possible through an alliance with the PSH party.
During the election campaign, Castro promised to take action against corruption and organized crime in Honduras.
Castro is married to former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted from office in 2009.
She called on all around ten million citizens in the country to "reconcile".
Dispute over the post of Congress President
The issue of reconciliation is likely to become particularly important in the coming weeks, given the political crisis that had erupted in the country in the days leading up to Castro's inauguration.
Two rival congress leaders were elected and sworn in: one of them was a breakaway MP from Castro's Libre party, Jorge Cálix.
He was elected by a majority of parliamentarians, including the conservative camp of outgoing President Hernández.
Castro, however, recognized Luis Redondo of the PSH as Congress President.
As part of her electoral alliance with the PSH, Castro had promised to support Redondo.
On the eve of her swearing-in, Castro offered Cálix the post of head of cabinet as a gesture of unity.
He promised a speedy reply.
Honduras is one of the main countries of origin of migrants who are caught entering the United States from Mexico without permission.
Hernández's brother was sentenced to life in prison in the US last March for large-scale drug trafficking.
The outgoing president could now also face charges.
aar/dpa/AFP
