Edgars Rinkevics has ascended from foreign minister to president following a parliamentary vote. He will be the first openly gay politician to hold the largely ceremonial role, Ednews informs via foreign media.
Latvia's parliament elected Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as the country's new president on Wednesday.
The 49-year-old has served as the top Latvian diplomat since 2011 and had been a long-term supporter of Ukraine against Russian aggression, especially since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year.
Rinkevics ascended to the largely ceremonial role of president after his predecessor, Egils Levits, decided not to run for a second term.
"I will do everything for our country to prosper and be secure," Rinkevics said after the parliamentary vote.