(ANSA) - ROME, JULY 08 - Edgars Rinkevics was sworn in as president of Latvia, he is the first openly gay head of state of a nation of the European Union. Rinkevics, who has been foreign minister since 2011, was sworn in today in Riga. The President of the Republic in Latvia mainly holds ceremonial roles, but can veto laws and hold referendums.
The EU has already had openly gay heads of government, but never a head of state. Rinkevics, 49, came out in 2014 and has been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights ever since.
Gay marriage is illegal in Latvia, although last year the country's Constitutional Court recognized same-sex unions.
In May, Rinkevics was elected by the Latvian parliament as the country's president in the third round of voting.
Today, in his inaugural address, Rinkevics vowed to continue supporting Ukraine's ongoing war effort against Russia. He said Latvia's foreign policy "has no time for mistakes," adding that it would act "quickly, decisively and wisely."
Rinkevics then encouraged young Latvians to "break the glass ceiling", calling inequality a "significant problem". 'The social divide in our society is too great,' he said, 'during my presidency I will fight for the creation of a modern and strong Latvia, for a legal and just Latvia, for people's well-being, for an inclusive and respectful society. And it is possible for all of us to achieve this by working together."
Rinkevics replaces Egils Levits, who was president for four years, and will represent Latvia at the NATO summit next week in Vilnius, Lithuania.
(ANSA).
Rinkevics, the EU's first gay president, swears in Latvia
2023-07-08T11:40:08.253Z
Highlights: Edgars Rinkevics, who has been foreign minister since 2011, was sworn in today in Riga. The President of the Republic in Latvia mainly holds ceremonial roles, but can veto laws and hold referendums. The EU has already had openly gay heads of government, but never a head of state. Gay marriage is illegal in Latvia, although last year the country's Constitutional Court recognized same-sex unions. He will represent Latvia at the NATO summit next week in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Edgars Rinkevics was sworn in as president of Latvia, he is the first openly gay head of state of a European Union nation. Rinkevics, who has been foreign minister since 2011, was sworn in today in Riga. (ANSA)