Rodrigo Paz has been sworn in as Bolivia’s president, ushering in a new era for the South American nation after nearly 20 years of governance by the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.

Paz, the 58-year-old son of a former president, and a pro-business conservative , drew applause at the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday at the Bolivian seat of congress.

“God, family and country: yes, I take the oath of office,” said Paz, who won a run-off election last month.

In his inauguration speech, he later said Bolivia would now be open to the world after two decades of left-wing governance.

The Movement Toward Socialism party, founded by charismatic former President Evo Morales, had its heyday during the commodities boom of the early 2000s, but natural gas exports have sputtered, and its statis

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