This marks the first time that the EU has had an openly gay head of state. Previously, openly gay individuals have held the position of head of government, such as former Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo.
Rinkevics, 49, came out as gay in 2014 and has since been a vocal advocate for LGBT rights. Despite Latvia's ban on same-sex marriage, the country's constitutional court recognised same-sex unions in 2022. Rinkevics, elected as Latvia's next president by the parliament in May, promised to continue supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia during his inauguration speech.
In his address, Rinkevics emphasised the importance of a strong and modern Latvia, highlighting the need for an inclusive and respectful society.
He called for unity in addressing inequality and stressed the significance of breaking the glass ceiling for young Latvians. Rinkevics succeeds Egils Levits, who served as president for four years and will represent Latvia at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Latvia, along with Lithuania and Estonia, joined the EU in 2004 after gaining independence from the collapsing Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Rinkevics' presidency marks a milestone in promoting inclusivity and diversity within European leadership.