Rodrigo Paz, a pro-business conservative, took office Saturday as Bolivia's president, ending nearly 20 years of socialist rule and inheriting acute economic woes.

Paz, the 58-year-old son of a former president, drew applause at the swearing-in ceremony at the Bolivian seat of congress as a torrential downpour fell outside.

"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 said Bolivia would now be different and open to the world after two decades of leftist rule that many here blame for the country's economic ills.

Under Evo Morales, in office from 2006 to 2019, Bolivia took a sharp turn to the left, nationalizing energy resources, breaking ties with Washington and making alliances with China, Rus

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