World press on Obama's inauguration day

LONDON - The following is a selection of comments from the editorial pages of newspapers around the world as Barack Obama was poised to become the 44th US president:

Britain’s Financial Times:

“His assumption of the office is an inspiring moment for the US and the world. In part this is because he is a remarkable man with the makings of a great president. More than that, it is because the new leader of the most powerful country on Earth bears witness to a momentous and distinctively American principle: that all men are created equal.”

Germany’s conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:

“Even people who do not go in for pathos see him as the saviour of the planet. What faith in the omnipotence of politics and one man! Obama, whose priorities will be dictated by the economic and financial crisis, will have to break promises and disappoint people here and there. But he will not be judged on the little things but rather on whether... more Americans come closer to realising ‘the renewal of the American Dream'.”

Berlin’s centre-left daily Der Tagesspiegel:

“Obama will be successful to the extent the Americans are patient with him, forgive his mistakes and allow themselves to continue to be inspired by his message.”

France’s Le Monde:

“Barack Obama is wrapped in patriotism” but it is “light-years away from the narrow-minded and unrefined patriotism of the outgoing team.”

Switzerland’s Tribune de Geneve:

“Canonised before he even takes the throne, Barack Obama has already entered history. The expectations are a measure of the level of anxiety of a people that needs to believe in its new icon. For Obama, the time for action has arrived.”

Switzerland’s Tages Anzeiger:

“Barack Obama brings a tune in the Western world which in recent years has hardly been heard in society, and here is the main reason for the enthusiasm: People realise that it is no longer enough to administer law, safeguard borders and one’s own position, or bring home salaries and bonuses in the dry season. Obama’s brilliant communication builds up communities.”

Spain’s top-selling left-wing daily El Pais:

“Obama arrives on a wave of hope. The myth will finally be crowned today at mid-day. We can’t recall when a human being had concentrated so much hope before in themselves, in a world so anxious for optimism.”

Spain’s right-wing daily ABC:

“Faced with the impressive challenges of this turbulent start to the 21st century, a single man has concentrated on himself a large part of the hope which still exists among the human race.”

Portugal’s Publico:

“For many decades so many expectations have not been lying in the hands of one man.”

Portugal’s Diario de Noticias:

“Today the new president’s speech must not only be brillant, it must be historic as Abraham Lincoln’s, Franklin Roosevelt’s or John Kennedy’s was. And in some respects this is unfair to Obama.”

Italy’s La Stampa:

“Barack’s Cicero-like speeches allowed him to rise above the mediocre level of his adversaries, Hillary Clinton and McCain. (But) when he will have to answer practical questions such as ‘when will you close Guantanamo', the use anaphoras and epistrophes will be more difficult”.

Italy’s Corriere della Sera:

Economically Obama “will probably not be a real turnaround”.

Because he will have “a hard time intervening in the tight-knit network of long established interests and in a theorical and ideological consensus about a still very solid neoliberal order”.

Sydney Morning Herald in Australia:

“Just being elected has allowed Mr Obama to make Americans feel their country has been lifted to another plane.”

Thailand’s Bangkok Post:

“It is clear that Mr Obama’s election campaign promises are going to be kept slowly, if at all.”

Indonesia’s Jakarta Post:

“Many in Indonesia, as well as in other Muslim nations, have certain expectations that the new US president is not likely to be able to meet.”

Indian Express:

“Tomorrow he will be prey to politics as usual. Tomorrow he will be, perhaps, just another president. But leave till tomorrow the concerns and carping: today he is not just a president-elect, not just a president --he is a symbol of all that the democratic spirit can hope to achieve, of the promise of power open to all.”

South Africa’s Business Day:

“US presidents are traditionally granted a 100-day honeymoon period, a complementary breathing space before their political opponents, and the media, take off the gloves. Barack Obama will be lucky if he gets time to take a single deep breath after today’s inauguration ceremony and related festivities, before he comes under the cosh.

South Africa’s The Star:

“It will be unrealistic to think Obama will focus his energies on problems of the African continent.”

In troubled Zimbabwe state-owned daily The Herald:

“Adios Bush, Zim won’t miss you!”

-Sapa-AFP