After weeks of waiting and uncertainty, Pedro Castillo finally took office this Wednesday of the presidency of Peru.
The rural teacher, from 51 years, it took He was sworn in before Congress before delivering his first speech as head of state, in which he promised to advocate for health services, fight corruption and approve a new Magna Carta.
“One of our The main political flags, now converted into the flag of the majority of the people, is the convocation of a Constituent Assembly ”, he said.
The king of Spain, as well as the presidents of Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador were among those attending the oath, which was not immune to symbolism to mark the new rhythm that Castillo has promised to bring to his country.
At BBC Mundo we tell you some of them.
1. A new clothing
For the first time in history, a Peruvian president was sworn in with a Chotano hat , the typical one from the Cajamarca region that Castillo has made part of his style.
But beyond the hat, what attracted the most attention in the local media was the clothes that He chose for the occasion: a blue suit with embroidered indigenous motifs and a collarless shirt, similar to that traditionally worn by Evo Morales and that has also been used by other left-wing leaders such as Rafael Correa, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or Nicolás Maduro.
In fact, the Peruvian press highlighted the similarity of the clothing with the traditional liqui liqui , the typical costume of Venezuela.
The clothes Castillo would wear during his inauguration had caused curiosity in Peru.
Recently a journalist asked the first lady what to wear ntaria would dress the new president, to which Lilia Paredes replied that “clothing does not define the person.”
2. Do not walk on the red carpet
In his review of the troops and at the entrance to Congress for the swearing in, Castillo did not use the traditional red carpet, symbol of the distinction of your senior position.
Previously, the dignitaries invited to his inauguration had walked on the carpet to enter Congress, but Castillo decided not to go for those steps.
The rural teacher, since his campaign, has promised to remain faithful to his peasant traditions. In fact, in the elections he tried to vote on a horse.
In the same sense, during his first speech he announced that he will not fulfill his functions as president from the Government Palace, the headquarters where The Executive Power has traditionally functioned during the republican life of Peru.
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“I will not rule from Pizarro’s house,” said the new president, referring to the name with the one that is usually designated to the Government Palace, in honor of Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conqueror.
“We must break with the colonial symbols. We will cede this palace to the Ministry of Cultures to be used as a museum, “he added in front of King Felipe VI of Spain, who was among the guests at the inauguration.
3. The swearing-in message
The most solemn moment of the inauguration, the swearing-in, was also loaded with symbolism.
And it is that traditionally, In the swearing-in formula, the new president, touching the Bible, swears “by God and these Holy Gospels” that he will “faithfully carry out the position of president entrusted to me by the Republic, that I will protect the religion of the State, I will preserve integrity, independence , and unity of the nation, I will keep and enforce its Constitution and Laws. ”
Castillo, on this occasion, put his harvest in the traditional oath to mention the offices of many of those who form his political base and, also, to give a political message about his goals in government.
“I swear by the peasants, the indigenous peoples, the ronderos , the fishermen, teachers, professionals, children, youth and women who will hold the office of president. I swear by the peoples of Peru, by a country without corruption and by a new Constitution ”, he said.
Castillo was declared the winner of the presidential elections last 19 of July, after a long dispute of votes and recounts that lasted more than a month.
The now president prevailed over the other candidates in a first round on 11 April, where no he reached the necessary majority, and then in the second round, on June 6, he defeated Keiko Fujimori, from Fuerza Popular.
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