Romania's new president, Nicusor Dan, has been officially sworn in, ushering in the most serious political crisis to hit the European Union country in decades after previous elections were cancelled.
Still, he faces many challenges ahead. Mr. Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former mayor of Bucharest, won a tight second-round vote on May 18, beating his far-right rival, George Simion.
Mr Simion later challenged the results in the high court, but his application was rejected last week.
During the inauguration ceremony at a joint session of Parliament, Mr Deng signed the constitutional oath.
In his speech, he promised to address Romania's economic problems and become a president “open to public opinion.”
“The Romanian state needs radical changes… and I encourage you to continue to participate, using all the social power you have demonstrated, to exert a positive influence on the institutions of the Romanian state to reform them,” he noted.
“I assure you that I will be a president who listens carefully to the public and becomes its partner.”
The May vote came just months after the Constitutional Court invalidated the previous vote, which saw far-right outsider Calin Georgescu lead in the first round, following allegations of electoral irregularities and Russian interference, which Moscow denies.
The court's unprecedented ruling last year has left NATO and EU member Romania facing a period of historic political turmoil.
The presidential term is five years and carries significant powers in the areas of national security and foreign policy.
In the re-run of the presidential election, Mr Dan ran as a candidate for the Honest Romania party, reaffirming his ties to the West, his continued support for Ukraine and fiscal reforms.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
