Latvia's new president becomes EU's first openly gay head of state

Latvia’s new president is sworn into office as ex-foreign minister becomes EU’s first openly gay head of state

• President Edgars Rinkevics, 49, announced he was gay in a Twitter post in 2014
• He is the seventh president of Latvia, a nation of 1.8 million that is an EU member

Latvia’s newly sworn-in president, Edgars Rinkevics, has become the European Union’s first openly gay head of state. 

Mr Rinkevics, who was sworn into office on Saturday, ‘proudly’ announced that he was gay on Twitter in 2014, making him one of Europe’s few LGBQT+ heads of state. 

The 49-year-old former foreign minister of Latvia was elected as president in late May as the candidate of his and Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins’ New Unity party.

Gary marraige is still illegal in Latvia, although same-sex unions were recognised by the country’s constitutional court last year.

Attitudes towards the LGBQT+ community remain conservative and less tolerant in the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all former Soviet republics – than in western Europe. 

According to the ILGA-Europe’s 2023 Rainbow Map and Index, Latvia is ranked 37 out of 49 European Union countries.

Latvia’s newly sworn-in president, Edgars Rinkevics, has become the European Union ‘s first openly gay head of state

Despite this, the Latvian capital of Riga saw the ‘biggest pride march in Latvia so far’ on the 3 June where ‘more than five thousand people attended the pride march’, according to Latvian broadcaster LSM

Kaspars Zālītis, one of the organizers of the Riga Pride 2023, told LSM: ‘This was the most spectacular march Rīga has had so far. 

Dozens of companies, organizations, diplomats, and most importantly thousands of happy people who stand for human rights. 

Riga Pride has shown itself to be one of the most unifying events in Rīga. Latvia’s community has become more open and inclusive, unfortunately, politicians are still unable to adopt the framework of the Civil Union Law or to ratify the Istanbul Convention. 

Baltic Pride will return to Riga next year, bringing activists from the region to stand for the human rights of all people.’ 

Edgars Rinkevics, who had served as Latvia’s top diplomat since 2011, took the oath of office in ceremonies at an extraordinary session of the Parliament, or Saeima, in Riga. He succeeds Egils Levits, who didn’t seek reelection.

He is the seventh president of Latvia, a nation of 1.8 million that is a member of the European Union and NATO, since it regained its independence in 1991. 

Latvia’s presidency is largely a ceremonial post and the head of state acts mainly as an opinion leader and uniting figure in the country, where almost one-third of residents speak Russian as a first language.

Mr Rinkevics, who was sworn into office on Saturday, ‘proudly’ announced that he was gay on Twitter in 2014, making him one of Europe’s few LGBQT+ heads of state

The Latvian capital of Riga saw the ‘biggest pride march in Latvia so far’ on the 3 June

‘More than five thousand people’ are thought to have attended Riga’s pride march last month

The president represents Latvia abroad, acts as the supreme commander of the armed forces, signs bills into law, nominates the prime minister and has the right to dissolve Parliament, among other things.

Rinkevics gained popularity among Latvians during his 12 years as foreign minister – a post he held for longer than any of his predecessors. 

In his inaugural speech on Saturday, Mr Rinkevics pledged that he would ‘stand up for a modern and strong Latvia, for a legal and just Latvia, for the wellbeing of the people, for an inclusive and respectful society’.

He added: ‘The rights of every person must be respected and protected in accordance with the highest human rights values and standards.’

Latvia’s foreign and security policy would remain unchanged and the Baltic country ‘will stand for a strong and effective NATO,’ he said.

New Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics (pictured: left) and outgoing President Egils Levis attend the symbolic handover ceremony of the keys to Riga Castle on Saturday

‘Russia’s war and genocide in Ukraine have created a new, harsh reality,’ Rinkevics said. 

‘We will continue to support the heroic Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom until Ukraine’s final victory. We will continue to fight against Russian imperialism and its evil world ideology.’

As he assumed the presidency on Saturday, the Latvian government said Prime Minister Karins would temporarily perform the tasks of the foreign minister along with his normal duties until a new appointment is made.

No names for a new foreign minister have yet been put forward for approval in the Parliament.

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