Chile's president assumes power in austere, post-quake ceremony

SANTIAGO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Billionaire businessman Sebastian Pinera took office as earthquake-stricken Chile's new president on Thursday in an austere ceremony without traditional banquets as in previous inaugurations.

Sebastian Pinera (2nd R, Front) waves to audience at the Congress house in Valparaiso, Chile, on March 11, 2010. Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as earthquake-stricken Chile's new president during an austere ceremony on Thursday. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)

"Traditionally the change of president has been a party, but because of the situation the nation is experiencing, we have sought to change the meaning of the day," Pinera spokesoman Ena Von Baer said Tuesday. "We want Chilians to see us at work on the one hand and on the other feel solidarity both domestically and internationally."

The heads of state and their representatives, already fewer than previous years, that attended the ceremony were asked to leave their spouses at home.

Among the delegates, only Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay sent their presidents, while Spain's heir to the throne Felipe was present.

Chile suffered a strong 8.8 magnitude quake on Feb. 27, killing at least 529 people and flattening around 500,000 houses. It was the worst quake since the one happened in Chile in 1960 disaster, the worst ever recorded.  

The ceremony took place at the nation's Congress in Valparaiso, 120 kilometers northwest of the capital Santiago. The activities then will move to the nearby resort town Vina del Mar, where the president has an official residence where he will offer "a working lunch" for guests.

After the ceremony, Pinera was to visit Constitucion, a fishing and tourism city that suffered a two-meter-high tsunami immediately after the earthquake.

"Pinera is giving out good signals, including the sober ceremony and the immediate visit to the affected areas," said Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organization of American States.