LIMA – Leftist Ollanta Humala (49) was sworn in as Peru’s president yesterday, taking over the reins of one of the world’s fastest-growing economies as poor voters increasingly demand a share of the country’s boom.
The former army commander caused a commotion in congress by promising to uphold the constitution of 1979 instead of the revised charter introduced in 1993 by jailed former president Alberto Fujimori, who shut down congress to consolidate power.
“Go home now!” shouted members of Fujimori’s party.
Mr Humala has sought to distinguish himself from his predecessor, Alan García, who was criticised for leaving a third of Peruvians mired in poverty. Mr Humala, a former radical, has promised to govern as a moderate and keep much of the existing free-market economic model intact. – (Reuters)