Lenín Moreno was inaugurated today, May 24, as the new President of Ecuador in a ceremony held within the National Assembly, with several Latin American leaders on hand.
Moreno, candidate of the Alianza País coalition, won the Presidency with 51.16% of the votes cast this past April 2, defeating Guillermo Lasso, from the conservative grouping CREO-SUMA.
The country’s 44th head of state received the Presidential sash from former President Rafael Correa, after being sworn-in by National Assembly leader José Serrano.
Moreno thanked those who had elected him, saying that the day was one which united the past, present, and future of the country “we have been constructing for the past 10 years.”
He emphasized that it had been a decade of establishing the foundation to live with the country’s own, clean energy, a decade “in which we recovered our self-respect and sense of belonging as Ecuadorans.”
In his opening remarks, José Serrano noted that, ten years ago, the Citizens Revolution was only a utopia, but was now a dream coming true, with real dividends for the people.
He continued saying that Ecuadoran democracy was renewed with the popular vote, emphasizing that, despite pressure and manipulation, the opposition could not detain the Ecuadoran people, who with a young leader on the frontline, has achieved a much more dignified and independent nation.
The event included an official farewell for President Rafael Correa, who departed the National Assembly hall amidst cheers and congratulations from deputies, friends, and guests.
Attending the inauguration ceremony were a number of heads of state and important officials from other countries, including Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia), Mauricio Macri (Argentina), Horacio Cartes (Paraguay), Willy Flores (Guatemala), and Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (Cuba), among others.
(Granma)