Frei Is Sworn, Vows to Fight Poverty in Chile
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SANTIAGO, Chile — Eduardo Frei was inaugurated as president on Friday and pledged to fight poverty and erase remnants of the Pinochet dictatorship.
Frei, a 51-year-old engineer and the son of a former president, succeeded Patricio Aylwin, who was elected in 1990 after 16 1/2 years of bloody rule by Gen. Augusto Pinochet. He will serve for a six-year term.
Frei said he will try to repeal a constitutional clause that prevents the president from firing the 78-year-old general, who remains army commander, and other military leaders.
The swearing-in ceremony occurred in the Congress building in the neighboring port city of Valparaiso, attended by 97 foreign delegations, including eight Latin American presidents.
Frei has promised to focus on ending poverty afflicting nearly 4 million of Chile’s 13 million people.
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