Dec 1st, 2006, 12:04 PM
Well, he succeeded in taking the oath of office, so for the moment a constitutional crisis is avoided. But what next?
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Felipe Calderon took the oath of office as Mexico's president Friday amid jeers and whistles in a chaotic ceremony reflecting a divided nation.
Physically protected by ruling party lawmakers and flanked by outgoing President Vicente Fox, Calderon quickly swore to uphold the constitution.
The national anthem was then played, momentarily stilling the catcalls and shouting. Calderon quickly left the chamber as Congress adjourned.
"He did it! He did it!" chanted ruling party lawmakers.
Before Calderon's arrival, opposition lawmakers threw punches and chairs and tried to block the doors of the congressional chamber.
Ruling party lawmakers, chanting "Mexico wants peace," seized the speaker's platform.
The brawl was shown on live television across Mexico. (Watch as Mexican TV broadcasts lawmakers' clashes Video)
Democratic Revolution Senate leader Carlos Navarette had said his party would do everything it could to keep Calderon out.
Democratic Revolution's former presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who claims he was robbed of the presidency, said he will march peacefully with his supporters to the National Auditorium, where Calderon is scheduled to address the nation.
Mexican law prevents security officials from searching lawmakers, and no police were allowed in the congressional chamber.
Amid the chaos, dignitaries began arriving, including former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Spanish Prince Felipe Asturias.
"The situation here at Congress isn't worrisome," Bolanos said. "These things happen all over the world."
Anticipating the standoff, the conservative Calderon took control of the presidential residence early Friday in an unusual midnight ceremony with outgoing President Vicente Fox, swearing in part of his Cabinet.
In that closed-door ceremony, broadcast live from Los Pinos, Fox handed the presidential sash to a military cadet as his term ended at midnight.
In the broadcast, Calderon called on Mexicans to leave behind the divisions that have dogged him and the country since the disputed July 2 elections.
"I have received the presidential offices from President Vicente Fox, the start of the process of taking possession of the presidency," Calderon said. "Later, I will appear before Congress to take the constitutional oath."
Lopez Obrador, who lost the presidency to Calderon by less than a percentage point, massed thousands of supporters nearby in the capital's main Zocalo plaza as thousands of riot police surrounded Congress to block them from moving in.
The leftist has refused to recognize Calderon's victory, setting up a parallel government of sorts and declared himself the "legitimate president" of Mexico.
"This shows once again the violence of the PRD," said the ruling party's Senate leader, Santiago Creel.
PRD and ruling party legislators had camped out in the huge congressional chamber since Tuesday, wrestling and shoving for control of parts of the stage and later camping out with pillows, blankets and pizza.
After his inauguration, Calderon was expected to address the nation at the massive and heavily guarded National Auditorium on the other side of Mexico City.
He then planned to go to an adjacent military parade ground where army commanders will swear allegiance to the elected head of state, symbolizing the military's tradition of staying out of politics since the 1930s.
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