Colombia Politics: Ivan Duque sworn in as next Colombian president

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02:08

Colombia has a new president. Ivan Duque has been sworn-in amid protests and uncertainties over a peace deal. CGTN's Michelle Begue reports from Bogota.

Ivan Duque made his first speech as president of Colombia at his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. He spoke of unity and rising above the left and right factions that are brewing in the country.

IVAN DUQUE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT "I want to govern Colombia with unbreakable values and principles and rise above the divisions of the left and right."

Duque, a populist conservative, took the oath of office in front of 10 heads of state and 17 international delegations.

MICHELLE BEGUE BOGOTA "The 42-year-old is one of the youngest presidents ever elected in Colombia. And there will be no shortage of challenges at the start of his four-year term including a fragile peace accord, record coca production and a sluggish economy."

IVAN DUQUE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT "What Colombians can expect is solutions and not aggressions. I want to be the president that will forge these peace agreements thinking about what Colombia needs and not falling for momentary praise."

Earlier, supporters of losing left-wing candidate Gustavo Petro, took the streets in a protest called March for life. Their main concerns: support of the peace agreement with the FARC rebel group and anger over the death of social leaders across the country.

ANDRES FELIPE DE LA OZZ PROTESTER "This peace movement goes beyond political party. We people are going to show the government that although they legitimately won, they have an opposition, and they must do right by them."

While Colombia is divided, the new president has described himself as a centrist that will unite the country. His detractors fear he will be a puppet to former President Alvaro Uribe who has led the opposition to the peace agreement signed in 2016. During the ceremony, Uribe's presence was acknowledged with a standing ovation. Michelle Begue, CGTN, Bogota.