Paraguay: notes on an inauguration

I'm not writing a daily story today on the inauguration of President Fernando Lugo. But I covered the ceremony and the aftermath and thought it might be interesting to describe a few details.

I got to the central plaza at about 7:30 am and ascended the central press riser. I was about 100 meters from the main stage. By this time, about two-thirds of the dignitaries' seats had been filled. Behind me, the area for those who didn't have special passes, was beginning to fill as well. In time, several thousand common folks would fill the plaza behind me, many of them waving Paraguayan flags. They also began chanting at the dignitaries, "Que se siente!" -- the Spanish version of "down in front."

The presidents were driven one by one to a staging area next to the stage and then announced to the crowd. When Lula was announced, the crowd behind me began to chant, "Itaipu! Itaipu!" A central tenet of Lugo's campaign was the demand that Brazil should pay Paraguay a higher price for the electricity generated by the Itaipu dam, which is operated by a binational enterprise.

Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales generated the biggest cheers. So the crowd must have been decidedly leftist.

The crowd jeered when the outgoing Colorado Party president of the Senate was announced. The poor fellow had to read a proclamation. "Fuera! Fuera!" the crowd -- "Go home! Go home!"

The national anthem was performed in Spanish and then Guarani.

When Lugo took the oath of office, he shouted into the microphone, "Si juro!" He was pretty enthusiastic, not surprisingly.

The master of ceremonies noted that never in Paraguay's 197-year history had one political party peacefully transferred power to another.

Lugo began his speech in Guarani. A few lines caught my attention (after he began speaking in Spanish). "We've planted a seed for a new direction in Paraguay."

"What we've undertaken is not an easy task, but it will not be impossible."

"Change is not just an election."

"Today ends the exclusive era in Paraguay, the era of corruption. Today begins the era when Paraguay will be an implacable foe of the crooked."

"I don't want a country where some don't sleep because of fear or hunger."

"I want a Paraguay where everyone benefits from the growth."

"We'll never forget Salvador Allende."

"I want the armed forces to be a friend of the people."

"I don't want soldiers who cause fear. I want soldiers who generate trust."

"Thanks to those of you who didn't stop dreaming."

Lugo's speech lasted 45 minutes. Afterward, the presidents walked two blocks to the Cathedral. Chavez attracted the biggest yells from the people lining the crowd barrier. He also drew the most attention from the press.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner shook hands the entire way to the Cathedral. I noticed she had a bracelet around her left ankle. I'd never before seen a president with one of those!

I was too far away to see but Peru's vice president, Luis Giampietri, confirmed to me that Lugo was wearing his trademark Fransican sandals "Without socks!" Giampietri told me.

Lugo was driven to the Cathedral. He stood in the back of a jeep, preceded by a phalanx of palace guardsmen on horse. The crowd greeted him deliriously.