Guatemala has sworn in President Alejandro Giammattei in a ceremony tainted by long delays blamed on political jostling and manoeuvres by outgoing officials to avoid arrest.
The 63-year-old Giammattei, a former surgeon and former prison chief, apologised on Twitter to guests and Guatemalans for the five-hour wait beyond the scheduled time, but said the problems were out of the hands of his government.
Giammattei, who won the top office on his fourth attempt and uses crutches because of multiple sclerosis, tweeted that change had started. He took to the stage to a Spanish version of Frank Sinatra's My Way.
Giammattei's strategy to uproot corruption from political life will be closely watched after his predecessor, fellow conservative Jimmy Morales, chased out a UN-backed anti-corruption body investigating him and his family.
Outgoing Morales is taking up a post in Central America's regional parliament later on Tuesday, which will extend the protection from prosecution he has been entitled to as president. Morales is under investigation for alleged campaign finance crimes, which he denies.
Riot police gathered on Tuesday outside the regional parliament headquarters, where anti-corruption protesters shouted insults as politicians arrived to be sworn in.
Giammattei is under pressure from Washington to expand an agreement with the United States forged by Morales that makes Guatemala a buffer zone to reduce US asylum claims.
Australian Associated Press
