MEXICO CITY, December 1 (RIA Novosti) - Mexico's new President Enrique Pena Nieto was sworn in early on Saturday prior to his ceremonial inauguration later today.
He replaces Felipe Calderon, who has ruled the country for 12 years of an interregnum for the Institutional Revolutionary Party which has governed Mexico for 71 years.
Pena Nieto formally took office earlier today in a handover in the national palace. A formal ceremony will take place later today in the Congress building in the presence of the nation's senators and deputies.
Pena Nieto, 46, has held a variety of posts in the Mexican government in the last decade including a state governorship.
He won the presidential election in July with 38.21 percent of the vote.
One of his key tasks will be fighting the drug cartels who have caused 50,000 deaths in the country in the last six years.
