José Mujica and Danilo Astori spoke at Plaza Independencia

"Friends of Latin America, the world, Presidents, and the diplomats that represent us" he started "Everyone who has some responsibility and political authority, and you, dear people, with whom we are all committed. It's good to remember that nobody is more than anyone else and know that governing is constructing teams, and that's why I would like to ask my formula partner to give you his greetings"

"Before that, I invited a friend that's here. He's an old guy from Artigas, raised in the border, who was an orphan when he was a kid. This guy has been politically active for forty odd years and every time I go to Artigas I stop by his little house. He's one of the essential people from below, those who never ask for anything, not a job, not a position, nothing" he continued, explaining that through him he wanted to remind everyone that he was no more than anyone else.

"I have to fight today for the integration of this country, for everyone and with everyone. But now listen to Danilo, because you know something people? When you're 74 years old, it's good to have the spare parts well oiled and prepared. This is why this is a team government, that will not delegate responsibility but knows that it has to be skeptical about biology. With you now, Danilo "he said as he presented his vice president.

Astori started by thanking all the foreign visitors, from Latin America and beyond, the national authorities, military, colleagues from the last government and the new one "and, as Pepe pointed out, the Uruguayan people, from the bottom of our hearts, once again, thank you".

"Thank you for what you have done, allowing Uruguay to have a second left wing government which of course opens its doors to all the political parties so as to work together for a better country, defining fundamental issues that could become state policies. We're convinced that this is possible" he added.

"It's very difficult to describe in words the emotions we have felt, the feelings of fervor, joy, and patriotic enthusiasm. What a responsibility! This is what we feel now, responsibility and commitment to carry out those transformations that will keep making Uruguay a developed country with justice, with social justice.
"Like Tabaré said on the 1st March 2005, and Pepe and I say today: don't leave us alone, be with us, work with us" he concluded.

Mujica took the stage once more and continued his speech, speaking about the importance of the monument of Artigas and holding the ceremony there, since it symbolized National unity and Latin American conception.

"Now we're certified, we have the signature of the notary. You can't say I'm not a domesticated creature" he joked. "But friends, these ceremonies can be boring but they are an institutional need that we have to defend" he added.

"A government of five years. We have to achieve our little goals, go up one step at a time, trying to leave behind something that others will continue. So, we need the collaboration of all the sectors of society. We need people to invest and we need to give guarantees, because people will invest only if they have some guarantees" he said.

Mujica later highlighted importance of reducing poverty, indigence and the need to work on education and culture. "This is not negotiable!" he claimed.

"Today, let's listen to the culture of our song. Let's say no to hate, no to anger, no to skepticism, no to ‘it can't be done'. Let's say no to looking at the egg from every side possible over and over again until we can find a hair on it (...) Dearest people, with you we change and to you we succumb. If I could do like Fausto and make a pact with a higher force in order to make the great weight on the people a little lighter, I'd do it, but that's just poetry, there are no miracles (...) long live Uruguay, long live Latin America" he concluded.

Traducción: INC