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Quiroga Becomes Bolivia's President
Jorge Quiroga became Bolivia's president Tuesday night, taking office amid expectations he can fix the economy of South America's poorest nation, soothe social discontent and curb political corruption ¡ª all in the year left in his predecessor's term.
In his inauguration ceremony, the vice president donned the presidential sash relinquished a day earlier by Hugo Banzer, who stepped down to battle cancer.
During his speech, Quiroga acknowledged the grave economic situation facing the country, and underlined the effects of the U.S.-funded coca eradication program and Bolivia's fight against contraband.
He called for unity in confronting economic ills, as well as support in fighting corruption.
Quiroga urged the creation of a new constitution to minimize the monopoly of mainstream political parties and open up politics to average Bolivians.
The 41-year-old chief executive also said his relative youth will be an asset. ``What matters is not appearance, but ability, spirit and desire to move forward,'' Quiroga said, speaking from Sucre's Liberty House, where Simon Bolivar liberated Bolivia from Spain 176 years ago.
Much of his inauguration speech focused on Bolivia's natural gas resources, and he promised that their benefits will reach the country's poorest.
Banzer's term would have ended Aug. 6, 2002, and Quiroga will be ineligible to run again ¡ª for either president or vice president ¡ª until 2007.
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