Juan Carlos Varela takes office as Panama's leader

Panamanian President-elect Juan Carlos Varela takes offices today as leader of the Central American nation for the next five years.

Varela took 39 percent of the votes in the country's elections last May.

Among Varela's campaign promises are to continue with the construction of the Panama Metro transport system, lower to 65 the required age of a monthly pension of $120 and begin a housing construction program for the inhabitants of the northern province of Colón.

Full story (in Spanish)