Guernica, Spain - Socialist Patxi Lopez was Thursday sworn in as the Basque region's first pro-Spanish prime minister in a solemn ceremony seen as launching a new era in the region plagued by separatist violence. Lopez, 49, promised to respect the law under the traditional oak tree in Guernica, a town symbolizing Basque rights, which is also known for Pablo Picasso's painting on its bombing by Nazi German planes during Spain's 1936-39 civil war.
Lopez became the first Basque prime minister unequivocally favouring the region's belonging to Spain since it was granted a broad self-government following the 1975 death of dictator Francisco Franco.
For three decades, the northern region of 2.2 million residents had been governed by the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which has separatist currents.
The PNV took the most votes in the March elections, but the socialists and conservatives struck a deal allowing Lopez to form a minority government.
In a sign that the times were changing, Lopez modified the traditional swearing-in ceremony, making a promise with his hand on a copy of the Basque autonomy statute, instead of swearing an oath on the Bible.
He also left out the words "humble before God," included in the traditional formula.
