Spanish Socialist Pedro Sánchez was sworn on Saturday as Spain's new Prime Minister by King Felipe VI, a day after ousting scandal-hit political rival Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence vote. Mr Sánchez, who is an atheist, took the oath to protect the constitution without a bible or crucifix - a first in Spain's modern history, at the Zarzuela Palace near Madrid.
"I promise by my conscience and honor to faithfully fulfill the obligations of the office of President of the Government with loyalty to the King, and to keep and enforce the Constitution as the fundamental norm of the State," Sánchez said.
Rajoy was present at the ceremony, shook Sánchez's hand and wished him good luck.
The Socialist leader won the support of six other parties to remove Mr Rajoy over a massive corruption scandal.
As Spain's new prime minister, whose party only has a quarter of the seats in parliament, he now has to decide who to include in his cabinet and is expected to name them next week.
In a brief ceremony at the royal residence in Madrid on Saturday, Mr Sánchez, 46, promised to "faithfully fulfil" his duties "with conscience and honour, with loyalty to the king, and to guard and have guarded the constitution as a fundamental state rule".
Sánchez, a pro-European economics professor who was a keen basketball player in his youth, previously said he would call for snap elections should he become Prime Minister.
Sánchez will work on his Cabinet this weekend, and it will be announced at some point next week, his party said.
Mr Rajoy is the first prime minister in modern Spanish history to be defeated in a no-confidence motion.
The new Catalan President Quim Torra, who is a close ally of ousted separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, said that he was committed to continuing the drive for the region's independence from Spain.
Pedro Sánchez emerged as a virtual unknown to win the Spanish Socialist party premiership in 2014. He won members over with a promise to unite a divided party and put the Socialists back in power.
Yet he subsequently suffered two humbling election defeats, in 2015 and 2016. He was eventually forced to resign after his refusal to back Mariano Rajoy in an investiture vote plunged the country into a prolonged political stalemate and his party into bitter infighting.
Mr Sánchez is likely to be challenged strongly over his plan to stick to the Rajoy budget.
Smaller groups, including Basque and Catalan nationalists - supported the no-confidence motion against Mr Rajoy, but it is unclear whether they will back the new government.
The Ciudadanos party, which had been doing well in opinion polls, supported Mr Rajoy.
