Conservative Pinera sworn in as president of Chile

World
Europe

Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera was sworn in 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 presidential sash, gave him a kiss and then left the Congress with members of her government. 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.

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera accompanied by his wife, first lady Cecilia Morel speaks at La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago, Chile March 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

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 between 1973-1990 held by Augusto Pinochet.

Leaders from neighboring Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Peru, as well as the former king of Spain Juan Carlos, attended the inauguration ceremony at the congress in the coastal city of Valparaiso.

Xi's special envoy in attendance

Ma Peihua, the special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and also vice chairman of the 12th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, also attended the ceremony.

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera swears in new cabinet members at the Congress in Valparaiso, Chile March 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

Ma conveyed Xi's congratulations and good wishes to Pinera, saying China and Chile have established a comprehensive strategic partnership and China-Chile relations have been spearheading China's ties with Latin American countries.

Ma said China has always regarded Chile as a significant cooperative partner in the Latin America and Asia-Pacific region, and hopes the two countries will strengthen exchanges in all aspects, including building the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative together.

For his part, Pinera thanked President Xi for sending an envoy to attend his inauguration and asked Ma to convey his greetings to President Xi.

Congratulating China on the ongoing sessions of China's top legislative and political advisory bodies, the Chilean president wished the Chinese people greater development achievements under President Xi's leadership.

Chile's newly inaugurated President Sebastian Pinera (C) poses for a family picture at the official country retreat and summer residence Cerro Castillo Palace in Vina del Mar, Chile, after his swearing-in ceremony at the Congress in the city of Valparaiso, on March 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

The new president's vision

Pinera called for a new national agreement on the care of children, and said his new cabinet would for the first time include a minister for children. He said some 1,313 minors had died in centers run by the National Service for Minors over the last decade. More than half the young people who pass through the state centers later become delinquents, according to Pinera.

The new president pledged to increase resources and subsidies to help tackle the problem.

In a Facebook message, Bachelet said she was "profoundly proud of the transformation that we pushed these years" and said she was convinced Chile today is more "just, equitable and free."

Pinera, whose fortune has been estimated by Forbes at 2.7 billion US dollars, has promised to transform Chile into a developed economy in the upcoming eight years.

(With input from Xinhua news agency)

18991km

Source(s): AFP