Best Wishes, President Lugo

Today former bishop and still-priest Fernando Lugo will take the oath of office to become president of Paraguay. His liberation theology has led him from the poorest province of the country to its helm. This is the first time an opposition party has won an election since Alfredo Stroessner took leadership through a coup in 1954; his Colorado party has dominated since. As McClatchy's Tyler Bridges points out, it is also "the first time in Paraguay's 197-year history that the ruling party willingly cedes power to the elected opposition." Tides change.

UPDATE: Read Inter Press Service: "Today, a new country is born."

UPDATE II: Tyler Bridges at the inauguration.