Peru's protester-turned-President Mr Alejandro Toledo took office late yesterday, promising to beat his country's crushing poverty in a "new dawn of irrevocable democracy."
The 55-year-old centrist economist, who grew up in a small adobe house with no power or running water, took his oath for a five-year term, swearing "by God, the nation and the poor of Peru" in a solemn ceremony in Congress.
"Today a new dawn of irrevocable democracy begins," he said in his maiden speech to Congress. He later planted trees in a Lima park with leaders and dignitaries from Latin America and beyond, saying "democracy is a plant that had to be tended."
His speech was cheered and clapped, but opposition lawmakers held protest banners. Hundreds of fans later ran behind his open-topped car as he toured the streets, blowing kisses and saluting, his arms outstretched savior-style.
Declaring there to be "no room for discouragement or doubt," the man who made his name leading street protests last year against ousted ex-President Mr Alberto Fujimori vowed to focus on fighting poverty.
"People want this government," he said - pointing to his presidential sash - "to deliver its promise of more work" for Peru, more than half of whose 26 million population is poor.
He assured Peruvians he would honour his pledges - which include raising public sector pay and cutting taxes - "with responsibility."
With a stagnant $54 billion mining-and fishing-based economy, nearly half the country did not vote for him and analysts say he will have to deliver fast or face strikes and protests.
Mr Toledo takes charge after a year of corruption scandals sparked by jailed ex-spy chief, Mr Vladimiro Montesinos, who controlled Peru's courts, Congress, media and military under Mr Fujimori's hard-line 1990-2000 rule.