WORLD : Greek Conservatives Take Over

ATHENS, Greece —  Greece’s first conservative government in nine years took office today and pledged to restore confidence in democratic institutions, badly shaken by 18 months of political scandals and weak coalition rule.

“We are taking over in a period of deep economic and social crisis,” new Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis said after his government was sworn in at the presidential palace by President Christos Sartzetakis.

Outside about 1,000 supporters chanted “Mitsotakis,” set off firecrackers and waved the blue-and-white flags of his New Democracy party, which secured an absolute majority in the 300-seat parliament after elections Sunday.