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Festive atmosphere in front of the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, December 10, 2019. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP

In Argentina, Alberto Fernandez settled on Tuesday, December 10, at Casa Rosada. Thousands of supporters gathered in front of the presidential palace to celebrate the coming to power of this center-left leader, who succeeds Liberal Mauricio Macri. Reportage.

From our correspondent in Buenos Aires , Aude Villiers-Moriamé

The heat wave will not have prevented thousands of Argentineans to parade through the streets of Buenos Aires, Tuesday, December 10.

Marcela Peralta comes from the province of La Pampa, in central Argentina. This teacher has traveled more than 700 kilometers to attend the investiture of Alberto Fernández : " It's a day of celebration, a day of happiness ! Finally, we will have a government that thinks of the workers, the most vulnerable ! There are many things to do because we are economically destroyed. I really hope that Alberto and Cristina will be able to change that. "

In the crowd, many posters and T-shirts with the image of Cristina Kirchner . The former president (2007-2015), still very popular in the country, became Tuesday the vice president of Alberto Fernández. Diego Gianini, in his thirties, hopes that this new Peronist government will succeed in getting the country out of the crisis: " I lost purchasing power little by little, it became difficult to make ends meet. Between the increase in prices of electricity, gas, food ... It's madness! "

Inflation is expected to reach 54% in 2019. More than four out of ten Argentineans live below the poverty line, according to figures from the Catholic University of Argentina. And unemployment, which has risen sharply, now affects nearly 11% of the active population.

During his inaugural speech to the Congress, Alberto Fernández said that reducing poverty and hunger would be the priority of his mandate: " One in two children is poor in our country. That is why the first meeting of our government will focus on this priority : adopt a comprehensive plan of Argentina against hunger .

The new president also said he would need time to repay Argentina's debts, including the IMF , which has paid more than $ 45 billion loan to Argentina. " To pay better, we must first find growth, " said Alberto Fernández.

To listen also : What political and economic room for maneuver for the new Argentine president?