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Mauricio Macri sworn in as Argentina president Argentina President Mauricio Macri sworn in
(35 minutes later)
Mauricio Macri has been sworn in as president of Argentina, in a ceremony boycotted by his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.Mauricio Macri has been sworn in as president of Argentina, in a ceremony boycotted by his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Mr Macri took the oath of office in Congress and is giving his inaugural speech, where he said he would work for all Argentines. The centre-right Mr Macri took the oath of office in Congress and then in his inaugural speech said he would work for all Argentines.
But he will receive the sash and baton of office at the presidential palace. He vowed to tackle poverty, corruption and drug trafficking, and pledged to end confrontation in politics.
Ms Fernandez insisted this should also take place in Congress and refused to attend either ceremony. Ms Fernandez boycotted the inauguration in a row over the venue.
After his swearing in, Mr Macri told Congress: "As president I want to be a citizen who can communicate with all Argentines, to tell you about my doubts, my beliefs and my hopes. Mr Macri, 56, told Congress: "As president I want to be a citizen who can communicate with all Argentines.
"Politics for me is not a competition to see who's got the bigger ego. It's working together for the good of the people.""Politics for me is not a competition to see who's got the bigger ego. It's working together for the good of the people."
He vowed to work "tirelessly for you in these coming four years".He vowed to work "tirelessly for you in these coming four years".
On Wednesday Mr Fernandez had bid farewell to supporters in an emotional speech, urging people to take to the streets if they felt betrayed by the new centre-right government. Late on Wednesday Ms Fernandez had bid farewell to supporters in an emotional speech, urging people to take to the streets if they felt betrayed by the new centre-right government.
This is the first time since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983 that a president has not attended the inauguration of a successor.This is the first time since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983 that a president has not attended the inauguration of a successor.
The conservative Mr Macri triumphed in last month's election, promising to move from a largely state-controlled economy under the leftist Ms Fernandez to one that is more free market-orientated, easing trade and currency controls.The conservative Mr Macri triumphed in last month's election, promising to move from a largely state-controlled economy under the leftist Ms Fernandez to one that is more free market-orientated, easing trade and currency controls.
He has also promised to improve relations with the US.He has also promised to improve relations with the US.
In his speech in Congress he said: "We've got to take confrontation out of the centre of politics. With fighting no-one wins, with dialogue, everyone wins.
"A new time is coming, a time of dialogue, a time of team work."
He said those who had voted for him wanted three goals - zero poverty, an end to drug trafficking and the unity of all Argentines.
To applause, he said he wanted a judiciary cleaned of its political affiliations.
Mr Macri has now travelled to the presidential palace to receive the sash and baton of office.
Ms Fernandez had insisted that the handover of the symbols of office should also take place in Congress, where her party holds a majority of seats.
She argued this was a tradition established by her and her husband and predecessor in office, Nestor Kirchner.
'Best and worst' of Fernandez - media round-up
The Buenos Aires Herald says Ms Fernandez's last day showed her "at both her best and her worst" with a "display of petty political mischief" but with "a grip on the popular imagination". She is "leaving not with nostalgia but with a rallying cry", it concludes.
La Prensa describes Ms Fernandez's failure to manage the handover ceremony as "a loss without precedents" and "a bitter lesson learned too late", adding that new president is now firmly "in control".
Left-wing newspaper Pagina 12 is more sympathetic, showing images of the huge crowds of supporters gathered in the Plaza de Mayo, along with the headline: "The Hug".
In Brazil, right-wing magazine Veja writes of "the follies of Cristina Kirchner" while Chile's El Mercurio says Mr Macri is taking power "surrounded by controversy".
Challenges for the new president
Mr Macri argued that according to presidential protocol, the handover should be held in the palace, as it did before 2003.
Local media reported that Mr Macri's decision was probably driven not just by tradition but also by a concern that followers of Ms Fernandez could disrupt the ceremony in Congress.
After Ms Fernandez declined to attend the ceremonies, Mr Macri's party sought a court injunction affirming that her term ended at midnight on Wednesday.
Ms Fernandez told her supporters on Wednesday evening: "I can't speak long because at midnight I turn into a pumpkin."