Latvia's foreign minister, an ardent backer of Ukraine, is sworn in as the new president

FILE - Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics speaks to the media after lawmakers elected him in the Saeima, the Latvian Parliament in Riga, Latvia, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Latvia’s long-serving foreign minister, known for his tough line on neighboring Russia and strong support for Ukraine, was sworn in on Saturday, July 8, 2023 as the Baltic nation’s president for a four-year term. (AP Photo/Roman Koksarov, File)

By JARI TANNER

HELSINKI (AP) — Latvia’s long-serving foreign minister, known for his tough line on neighboring Russia and strong support for Ukraine, was sworn in on Saturday as the Baltic nation’s president for a four-year term.

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 the capital, Riga. He succeeds Egils Levits, who didn’t seek reelection.

Rinkevics, 49, was elected by lawmakers in late May in a race against two other candidates. He ran as the candidate of his and Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins’ New Unity party.

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. Rinkevics, who announced “proudly” in 2014 on Twitter that he is gay, is one of Europe’s few LGBTQ+ heads of state. Attitudes to sexual minorities in the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — all former Soviet republics - and eastern Europe have been less tolerant than in western Europe.

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.

Latvia's Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins stands during remarks on the sidelines of a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Estonia and Lithuania at the State Department, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).

Latvia’s foreign minister will step down after a probe over his office’s use of private flights

FILE - European Parliament President Roberta Metsola speaks during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. Media reports in Latvia say that the country's state security service has started criminal proceedings against an European Parliament lawmaker and a citizen of the Baltic country who is suspected of cooperating with Russian intelligence and security services. Latvian media outlets reported Saturday, March 16, 2024 that Latvian security service has been investigating the activities of 73-year-old Tatjana Ždanoka and her alleged Russia ties over the past several weeks. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, file)

Latvia starts criminal proceedings against an EU Parliament lawmaker suspected of spying for Russia

A view of Riga, Latvia, Sept. 5, 2023. Latvia's government has extended restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens into the Baltic country until next year, citing Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine which officials say is "still posing a threat to the internal security of Latvia." (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Latvia extends an entry ban on Russian tourists until March 2025 citing Moscow’s war in Ukraine

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 to lawmakers, he spoke about Russia and Ukraine at length.

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

“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.

Latvia’s foreign minister, an ardent backer of Ukraine, is sworn in as the new president