New Chile President "Gabriel Boric" Sworn In

 

New Chile president "Gabriel Boric" 36-year-old  has been sworn in as president after its elections last year November, becoming the country’s youngest president in its history.

Boric was decorated with the presidential sash from outgoing President Sebastian Pinera on Friday at the Congress building in the port city of Valparaiso.

“Before the Chilean people, I make my pledge,” Boric said.

Gabriel Boric is Chile’s youngest president, replacing Sebastián Piñera, who ended his second term with a disapproval rating of 71 per cent, the worst recorded by a president since the return of democracy in 1990.

Gabriel Boric saw a record voter turnout last year, providing nearly 56 per cent of the vote to beat opponent José Antonio Kast.

Boric’s new administration follows large-scale protests in 2019 over unequal wealth distribution in income, healthcare, education and pensions.

He has promised to boost the Chilean tax regime to fund social reform and halt the country’s spiralling debt.

In January, Boric announced that his cabinet was composed of women and young people, including two colleagues who had led countrywide protests in 2011 for free, quality education.

Chile’s defence minister is Maya Fernández, the granddaughter of Salvador Allende, Latin America’s first elected president who was ousted in the coup of 1973.