Deputies at the Ecuadorian legislature, the unicameral Congress, on Friday swore in Jorge Cevallos Macias, from the Renewing Institutional Revolution Party (Prian), as their president, for the 2007-2009 period.

Cevallos, a deputy from Manabi, won 82 votes in favor, against nine opposing and seven abstaining.

"With the inauguration of Congress, a new stage in the life of the Republic of Ecuador has begun," he said in his acceptance speech. Friday was the Congress' first session of 2007.

With 28 seats, his party is the largest in Congress.

Source: Xinhua