Manuel Zelaya was inaugurated Friday as Honduras’ new president with promises to fight corruption and help criminal and gang members become useful citizens.

Zelaya – a tall, wealthy agricultural landowner widely recognized by his thick black mustache, cowboy boots and large, white Stetson – has railed against alleged government corruption and promised to do more for Hondurans with little resources.

The 56-year-old Zelaya replaces outgoing President Ricardo Maduro, who led a government crackdown on the country’s flourishing gang problem, throwing thousands of gang members in overcrowded jails.

The policy was both praised by Hondurans tired of rising crime and copied in neighboring El Salvador.