GUY-MANUEL PLEDGES NEW ERA OF CHANGE 
Varkour's new President Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo has taken office at a ceremony in the Vusunnais Palace, after waving goodbye to President Maxime Michaud.
The new centre-right president succeeded his former mentor after defeating the former President in last weeks election. He won with 53% of the vote and enjoys a powerful mandate after a massive turnout by the electorate.
Guy-Manuel, 52, was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Solveig, wearing an eye-catching silver dress, and their son, Louis.
In his inaugural address, he called for change and national unity, and said Varkour needed "to take risks and follow initiatives". The country also needed to "rehabilitate the values of work, effort, merit and respect".
"We need results because the Varkourian people in their daily lives need improvements... We need to invent new solutions." He warned that "never have the risks of inertia been so great for Varkour" as in today's fast-moving world.
But he vowed to "defend the independence of Varkour... the identity of Varkour".
A 21-gun salute marked his assumption of the presidency, after a brief private conversation with Maxime Michaud and praised her contributions to peace and the environment. One of Mrs Michaud's last tasks was to hand over the launch codes of Varkour's nuclear arsenal.
MICHAUD'S LEGACY - Unemployment: 9.1%, highest for 25 years
- Sluggish economic growth
- Social tensions, especially in deprived Vusun suburbs
Guy-Manuel, formerly interior minister, has a reputation as a law and order hardliner. He made the fight against illegal immigration and crime prominent in his election campaign, along with the issue of national identity.
