Marcos Jr. takes oath of office as Philippines president

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Marcos Jr. takes oath of office as Philippines president

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Marcos Jr. took the oath of office on Thursday when he was sworn in as president of the Philippines at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila.

The son of the former dictator used his inauguration speech to talk about the economy and the need to heal a deeply divided country after a polarizing election.

MANILA - Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the former dictator, was sworn in Thursday as the 17th president of the Philippines, praising his father's legacy and vowing to confront an array of challenges as Rodrigo Duterte, the outgoing president. In a ceremony that capped a remarkable comeback for a family that was once forced into exile, Mr. Marcos, 64, presented himself as a leader who would help the Philippines improve its economy and secure a more prosperous future. You will not be disappointed, so do not be afraid, he said, speaking to thousands of supporters, including his 92-year-old mother, Imelda Marcos, at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila.

His victory has sparked concerns that another Marcos administration may return the country to its autocratic past. In more than 30 years, he won the clinch of the strongest majority, but his allies now control most of the House and Senate. Sara Duterte, the daughter of Mr. Duterte, won the vice presidency with a larger share of the vote. The president and vice president are elected separately in the Philippines. Ms. Duterte was inaugurated earlier this month. In his inauguration speech, Mr. Marcos said that his father's administration built roads, produced rice and never failed to defeat foreign attempts to break up our country. The scene surrounding Mr. Marcos inauguration on Thursday gave a vivid reminder of the challenges he faces in healing a country still scarred by the memories of martial law under his father. Thousands of security forces stood guard as protesters gathered at Freedom Park, about half a mile from the national museum. Many of the protesters believed that the name of Marcos was a synonym for excess, corruption and greed. Marites Karganila, 53, a street vendor from a township south of Manila, said that the family of Marcos should be made to pay for their sins and be jailed, not celebrated. Two of her cousins were jailed during the martial law years. Opponents say that Mr. Marcos has already demonstrated anti-democratic tendencies, pointing out that he has largely shunned the news media and broke with norms by refusing to participate in most presidential debates.

Marcos, who goes by his childhood nickname, Bongbong, assumed the presidency as the country is trying to recover from the pandemic while managing rising inflation and mounting debt. He also inherited a legacy of a drug war that has killed tens of thousands of people and prompted an investigation by the International Criminal Court. The new president, who previously indicated that he would not help the I.C. C., with its investigation into Mr. Duterte, signaled in his speech that he would reject all foreign interference in domestic politics. He said that we can trust no one else when it comes to what is best for us. He pledged to improve the economy and come up with a comprehensive infrastructure plan. The investors have shown little faith in his economic ability. Marcos placed near the bottom of the Bloomberg poll that asked investors and analysts who they thought would be the best candidate to lead the economy. While several of his cabinet positions are yet to be filled, this month Mr. Marcos announced that he would take over the role of agriculture minister, an unusual move that would give him direct control over food prices, which have been rising.