Pak Sahafat – Siomara Castro has been taken Oath as the country’s first female president after much political turmoil.
According to Pak Sahafat news agency, Castro took Oath as the first female president of Honduras on Thursday in front of a crowd including US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Castro’s Oath taking ceremony puts an end to the eight-year rule of Juan Orlando Hernandez, a former US ally accused of corruption and links to drug traffickers.
This comes as the Castro administration faces trials such as a sharp congressional dispute, rising debt and relations with China.
Castro and her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, took Oath at a crowded stadium, where supporters backed his promises to tackle the country’s problems.
“Castro said in her opening speech: The economic catastrophe that I inherit is unprecedented in the history of our country.
Harris, who was a guest at her inauguration, congratulated Castro on her election to democracy.
At a meeting shortly after the ceremony, Harris pledged to co-operate on issues such as immigration and economic development, and said she welcomed Castro’s plans to seek UN assistance in setting up an anti-corruption commission.
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U.S. officials want to work with Castro to curb both illegal immigration from Central America and international support for Taiwan as part of efforts to curb Chinese influence in Honduras.
Honduras was one of the few countries to maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei instead of Beijing, and Castro declined to comment on her allegiance to China during her campaign.
Taiwan Vice President William Lai also attended the inauguration in an effort to strengthen ties with the Castro government.