New President Vows Honesty, Austerity

Fernando de la Rua of the center-left Alliance party took over as Argentina’s new president, criticizing outgoing leader Carlos Menem for corruption scandals, social problems and a budget that De la Rua said is in disarray. The former Buenos Aires mayor, 62, assailed the Peronists’ 10 years in power, telling Congress after being sworn in that Argentina has “a moral and social debt we should start repaying today.” “Transparency, honesty, austerity and a permanent fight against all forms of corruption will be the trademark of my government, from the highest state official to the lowest,” he said.