President Macapagal-Arroyo begins forming Cabinet<\/p>\n
MANILA (Agencies): The Philippines' new president turned
\nquickly Sunday from celebrating her sudden rise to power to the
\ndifficult task of rebuilding national unity and business
\nconfidence, both devastated by a three-month political crisis.<\/p>\n
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, swept to power on Saturday
\nafter three days of massive protests and the stunning resignation
\nof top officials, met with key supporters and announced several
\nmembers of her new economic team.<\/p>\n
Her first appointment, Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo,
\nappealed for support for the \"great task of rebuilding our
\nnation.\"<\/p>\n
Macapagal-Arroyo, a 53-year-old economist who was Estrada's
\nvice president, is widely believed to be better equipped than her
\npredecessor - a former movie star and college dropout - to revive
\nthe stagnant economy. Financial markets, badly battered by the
\ncrisis, are expected to surge on Monday.<\/p>\n
But the initial euphoria is likely to cool quickly as the
\ncountry focuses on the daunting problems the new administration
\nfaces.<\/p>\n
\"She doesn't really have a personal mandate as president,\"
\nsaid analyst and newspaper columnist Nelson Navarro. \"She just
\nhappened to be the constitutional successor ... and has to
\nquickly revive her popularity.\"<\/p>\n
Governments around the world congratulated the new Philippine
\npresident and praised Filipinos for a transfer of power unmarred
\nby violence.<\/p>\n
\"The United States is pleased that the presidential crisis in
\nthe Philippines has been resolved without violence and in
\naccordance with democratic and constitutional procedures,\" the
\nU.S. Embassy in Manila said in a statement.<\/p>\n
In Australia, Prime Minister John Howard congratulated
\nMacapagal-Arroyo. Government officials denied rumors that they
\nhad received a request from Philippine authorities to allow
\nEstrada to fly to there.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, visiting Beijing
\nto pressure China on its human-rights practices, also had a
\nmessage for the Philippines.<\/p>\n
\"Change ... should be peaceful,\" Annan said. \"I think that is
\nwhat we should all pray for.\"<\/p>\n
British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a message of
\ncongratulations to Arroyo welcoming the peaceful resolution of
\nthe crisis.<\/p>\n
China also called Arroyo \"a friend\" and said it was looking
\nforward to maintaining friendly relations with the Philippines.<\/p>\n
\"Mrs. Arroyo is a friend of China who last year paid a
\nsuccessful visit,\" foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said.<\/p>\n
German President Johannes Rau issued a statement wishing
\nArroyo \"lots of success following the recent difficulties faced
\nby democracy in the Philippines.\"<\/p>\n
Japan pledged to support the new administration and said it
\nexpected the new government to be \"launched smoothly.\"<\/p>\n
\"The government of Japan will continue to closely cooperate
\nwith the new government,\" Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said.<\/p>\n
Seoul's foreign ministry said it recognized the difficulties
\nthe country had to overcome to achieve a peaceful transition of
\npower.<\/p>\n
\"We welcome that the Philippines has overcome the political
\ndifficulties through democratic procedures to allow the
\ninauguration of new President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a
\npeaceful manner,\" it said.<\/p>\n
In Bangkok, the Thai foreign ministry noted Estrada's ousting
\nwas in accordance with democratic process and the will of the
\nmajority of the Philippine people.<\/p>\n
In Osaka, visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nadded he was happy the leadership issue had been resolved.<\/p>\n
\"I am confident that new Philippine President Gloria Macapagal
\nArroyo will cooperate with Malaysia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of Cambodia's national
\nassembly, said Phnom Penh should not interfere in other
\ncountries' internal affairs, \"especially the Philippines which is
\na member of our ASEAN brotherhood.\"<\/p>\n
Romulo, a former senator and budget secretary under former
\nPresident Corazon Aquino, who took power after Marcos' ouster,
\nfaces a ballooning budget deficit, slowing exports, rising
\ninterest rates and surging inflation.<\/p>\n
Analysts say Asian markets will go into the Chinese New Year
\nholiday in buoyant mood with an end to at least some regional
\npolitical uncertainty after Joseph Estrada finally stepped down
\nas president of the Philippines.<\/p>\n
\"It's obviously good news for the Philippines but I actually
\nthink this is more important for the region,\" said Steve Brice,
\ntreasury economy at Standard Chartered in Singapore.<\/p>",
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