ASUNCION, PARAGUAY — Former Roman Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo, whose election broke a six-decade legacy of dictatorship and one-party rule, was sworn in Friday as president of this poor, landlocked nation in the heart of South America.
"Today a new Paraguay is born," Lugo told thousands of supporters and various heads of state assembled outside the congressional palace in the normally sleepy capital. "Today marks the end of an exclusive Paraguay, a secretive, notoriously corrupt Paraguay."
This nation of 6 million has had a fragile democracy since the 1989 ouster of strongman Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled for 35 years under the banner of the Colorado Party. But Stroessner's colorados retained power until Lugo's inauguration -- which is being widely seen as the nation's definitive transition to democratic rule.
Lugo is the latest leftist leader to assume office in a region that a generation ago was largely ruled by U.S.-backed military dictatorships. Left-leaning, democratically elected presidents of eight South American nations were on hand to pay homage to their newest colleague in an impressive display of solidarity.
"This is a victory for the Latin American revolution," declared Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez upon arriving at his hotel, where he was warmly embraced by Lugo.
Oil-rich Venezuela is reported to be considering funding a new university here, part of Lugo's stated desire to improve the country's long- neglected educational and health infrastructure.
However, Lugo has refrained from the U.S.-bashing style of Chavez and has signaled a closer affinity for the policies of the region's more moderate leaders, such as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chile's Michelle Bachelet, both firm U.S. allies who attended Lugo's inauguration. The Bush administration has welcomed Lugo, and it sent a sizable delegation.
Asuncion, for decades the repressive stronghold of the Stroessner dictatorship, has drawn a celebratory gathering of Latin American leftists.
"I have come to share the joy of this country for the new era that begins with Lugo," Eduardo Galeano, a Uruguayan writer known for his political commentary, told a crowd gathered at a downtown theater, where he was greeted by the new president.
Lugo, 57, rose from his status as hero of the landless poor to assemble a broad coalition that toppled the ruling party in April's elections. The presidency is his first elective office.
