BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – Argentine President Mauricio Macri was sworn in Thursday, inheriting myriad economic problems from the often-divisive outgoing President Cristina Fernandez, who skipped the inauguration in a final sign of confrontation that underscored deep polarization in the South American nation.
Macri, the former mayor of Buenos Aires who hails from one of Argentina’s richest families, took the oath of office in Congress in front of legislators, several Latin American heads of state and other dignitaries, including former Spanish King Juan Carlos I.
“Today a dream is being achieved,” said Macri as he took the oath 15 minutes ahead of schedule, surprising commentators who noted Argentina isn’t known for such punctuality.
The new president then launched into a speech that was both a long list of promises and a frank, if not brutal, assessment of how he saw Argentina, a country rich in natural resources that has also suffered several major economic meltdowns.
Macri said the nation of 41 million people was entering the 21st century behind in its development, and that its education system needed modernized at all levels. He said that “lying about and hiding” the state of the economy had tarnished Argentina’s reputation worldwide, a clear dig at the Fernandez administration, which often put out suspect figures on inflation, poverty rates and gross domestic product.