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Tunisia's new president promises consensus and reconciliation at his inauguration

Associated Press
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Beji Caid Essebsi, puts his hand on the Quran to be sworn in as new Tunisian President during a ceremony at the National Assembly in Tunis, Tunisia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. Tunisia's new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country's democratic transition. The inauguration of Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in which Tunisians wrote a new constitution and elected a new parliament and president, ending a transition kicked off by a revolution. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi) (The Associated Press)

Beji Caid Essebsi, acknowledges the applauses after swearing in as new Tunisian President during a ceremony at the National Assembly in Tunis, Tunisia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. Tunisia's new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country's democratic transition. The inauguration of Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in which Tunisians wrote a new constitution and elected a new parliament and president, ending a transition kicked off by a revolution. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi) (The Associated Press)

Beji Caid Essebsi, puts his hand on the Quran to be sworn in as new Tunisian President during a ceremony at the National Assembly in Tunis, Tunisia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. Tunisia's new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country's democratic transition. The inauguration of Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in which Tunisians wrote a new constitution and elected a new parliament and president, ending a transition kicked off by a revolution. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi) (The Associated Press)

Tunisia's new president has been sworn in before parliament as the nation completes its democratic transition on the last day of 2014.

Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old veteran of past governments, swore before the parliament dominated by his Nida Tunis Party to protect the country and not exclude any Tunisians.

Tunisians kicked off the Arab Spring in 2011 when they overthrew their long-ruling dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

After a rocky transition, partly run by an Islamist party, Tunisians voted in Essebsi and his party, which includes many veterans of the old regime, in a series of elections this fall.

The campaign between Essebsi and outgoing president Moncef Marzouki was bitter.

At his inauguration, Essebsi said there would be no future for the country without consensus and national reconciliation.