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'{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{short description|President of Latvia (since 2023)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Edgars Rinkēvičs | image = Edgars Rinkēvičs as president-elect, 2023-05-31 (cropped).jpg | caption = Rinkēvičs in 2023 | office = 11th [[President of Latvia]] | primeminister = [[Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš]] | term_start = 8 July 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Egils Levits]] | successor = | office2 = [[Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe|President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe]] | term_start2 = 17 May 2023 | term_end2 = 8 July 2023 | predecessor2 = [[Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir]] | successor2 = [[Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš]] (acting) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|9|21|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Jūrmala]], Latvia<!-- Per [[Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style/Baltic states-related articles]], there is no consensus for references to the USSR and Soviet republics as birthplaces in Baltic-related articles.--> | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Latvian Way]] (1998–2004)<br>[[Reform Party (Latvia)|Reform Party]] (2012–2014)<br>[[Unity (Latvian political party)|Unity]] (2014–2023) | alma_mater = [[University of Latvia]]<br>[[Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy]] | office1 = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] | termstart1 = 25 October 2011 | termend1 = 8 July 2023 | primeminister1 = [[Valdis Dombrovskis]]<br>[[Laimdota Straujuma]]<br>[[Māris Kučinskis]]<br>[[Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš]] | predecessor1 = [[Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis]] | successor1 = [[Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš]] (acting) }} '''Edgars Rinkēvičs''' (born 21 September 1973) is a [[Latvia]]n public official and politician and the current [[President of Latvia]]. He served as the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia]] from 2011 to 2023. Before becoming minister, he served as head of the [[President of Latvia|Chancery of the President of Latvia]], as State Secretary of the [[Ministry of Defence (Latvia)|Ministry of Defence]], as well as a deputy of the [[Saeima]]. Upon taking office as president, Rinkēvičs became the first openly gay [[head of state]] in a [[European Union]] country.<ref name="bloomberg">{{Cite news |date=2023-05-31 |title=EU's First Openly Gay Head of State Elected by Latvian Assembly |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-31/eu-s-first-openly-gay-head-of-state-elected-by-latvian-assembly |access-date=2023-05-31}}</ref> Prior to becoming president, Rinkēvičs had represented [[Latvian Way]], [[Reform Party (Latvia)|Reform Party]], and the [[Unity (Latvia)|Unity]] party since May 2014. He left Unity after being elected president as it is customarily expected in Latvia for presidents to maintain political neutrality. ==Early life and education== Rinkēvičs was born in [[Jūrmala]], where he completed high school in 1991.<ref name="tvnetcv">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnet.lv/4783938/pili-jaunas-asinis-edgars-rinkevics|title=Pilī jaunas asinis – Edgars Rinkēvičs|last=Barkāns|first=Elmārs|publisher=TV NET|language=lv|date=13 October 2008|access-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210302072858/https://www.tvnet.lv/4783938/pili-jaunas-asinis-edgars-rinkevics|archive-date=2 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon graduating from high school, he started a [[bachelor's degree]] at the [[University of Latvia]]'s Faculty of History and Philosophy, which he acquired in 1995. During the same time, in 1994 and 1995 he studied Political Science and International Relations at the [[University of Groningen]] in the [[Netherlands]], for which he received a certificate in 1995.<ref name="saeimacv">{{Cite web|url=http://titania.saeima.lv/LIVS11/saeimalivs_lmp.nsf/0/88f6289efd28d955c225793300437370/$FILE/25_Lm.pdf|title=Par uzticības izteikšanu Ministru kabinetam|publisher=[[Saeima]]|language=lv|date=24 October 2011|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> In 1997, he obtained his [[master's degree]] in political science, followed by a second master's degree from the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy]],{{efn|Sources (<ref name="tvnetcv"/><ref name="saeimacv"/><ref name="mkcv"/>) state Rinkēvičs studied at the ''[[Industrial College of the Armed Forces|Industrial College of the Armed Forces of the US National Defence University]]'' as this was the name of the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy]] at that time. The name was changed to its current form in 2012.<ref>[http://es.ndu.edu/About/Mission.aspx Mission], The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, United States Department of Defense, Fort McNair, Washington, District of Columbia, accessed 6 February 2015.</ref>}} obtained in 2000.<ref name="tvnetcv"/><ref name="mkcv">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mk.gov.lv/en/employee/edgars-rinkevics|title=Minister for Foreign Affairs – Edgars Rinkēvičs|publisher=[[Government of Latvia|Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia]]|language=en|access-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228190424/https://www.mk.gov.lv/en/employee/edgars-rinkevics|archive-date=28 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Career== In 1993 and 1994, Rinkēvičs worked as a journalist reporting on foreign policy and international relations at [[Latvijas Radio|Latvian Radio]], while still studying.<ref name="kroet">{{Cite web|last=Kroet|first=Cynthia|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/edgars-rinkevics-latvias-foreign-minister/|title=Edgars Rinkēvičs: Latvia's foreign minister|date=18 December 2014|publisher=[[POLITICO Europe]]|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> In 1995, he took the job as senior referent in the Policy Department of the [[Ministry of Defence (Latvia)|Ministry of Defence]], a role he held until March 1996, when he became acting leader of the Policy Department, a role he occupied until September the same year, when he was made acting Deputy Secretary of State for Defence.<ref name="tvnetbio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnet.lv/5085648/arlietu-ministra-amata-kandidata-edgara-rinkevica-biografija|title=Ārlietu ministra amata kandidāta Edgara Rinkēviča biogrāfija|work=[[LETA]]|publisher=TV NET|language=lv|date=24 October 2011}}</ref> In May 1997, he became acting Secretary of State for Defence, before becoming the main Secretary of State for Defence in August 1997, a role he possessed until October 2008.<ref name="tvnetbio"/> [[File:Secretary Pompeo Meets with Latvian Foreign Minister Rinkevics (49593543217).jpg|left|thumb|Rinkevics meets with [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo|Michael R. Pompeo]] at the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] on 27 February 2020.]] Between 1998 and 2004, Rinkēvičs was a member of the [[Latvian Way]] party.<ref name="tvnetbio"/> In February 1998, he became involved in discussion on the US-Baltic Partnership Charter, and from 2002 to 2003 was a member of the Latvian delegation negotiating accession to [[NATO]] as Latvia's Deputy Head of Delegation. In 2008, he was appointed as Head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia, a role he held until July 2011.<ref name="tvnetbio"/> In October of the same year, Rinkēvičs joined [[Valdis Dombrovskis]]' [[Third Dombrovskis cabinet|third cabinet]] as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Initially an [[Independent politician|independent]], he joined the [[Zatlers' Reform Party]] in January 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/arlietu-ministrs-rinkevics-iestajas-zrp.d?id=42092782|title=Ārlietu ministrs Rinkēvičs iestājas ZRP|publisher=[[Delfi (web portal)|Delfi]]|language=lv|date=30 January 2012|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> In May 2014, Rinkēvičs joined the [[Unity (Latvia)|Unity]] party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2014 |title=Astoņi RP politiķi iestājas "Vienotībā" (papild.) |url=https://ir.lv/2014/05/19/vairaki-rp-deputati-uzrakstijusi-iesniegumus-par-iestasanos-vienotiba/ |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=[[Ir (newspaper)|ir]] |language=lv}}</ref> [[File:Secretary Blinken Participates in a Joint Press Availability With Latvian Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs (51930453768).jpg|left|thumb|Rinkēvičs with U.S. Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] on 7 March, 2022]] Following the resignation of the Dombrovskis cabinet in 2014, he continued his ministerial roles in [[Laimdota Straujuma]]'s [[First Straujuma cabinet|first cabinet]]. In 2014 he stood in the [[2014 Latvian parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] and was elected to parliament before again being confirmed to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs, this time in [[Second Straujuma cabinet|Straujuma's second cabinet]].<ref name="kroet"/> He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2019 in the [[Kučinskis cabinet]] and from 2019 to 2023 in the [[First Kariņš cabinet|Kariņš cabinet]]. He was elected [[president of Latvia]] on 31 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2023-05-31 |title=Edgars Rinkevics elected president of Latvia |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/edgars-rinkevics-elected-president-latvia-2023-05-31/ |access-date=2023-05-31}}</ref> He took office on 8 July 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=President Edgars Rinkēvičs takes oath of office |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/video/08.07.2023-president-edgars-rinkevics-takes-oath-of-office.a515626/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |date=8 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> == Political positions == Rinkēvičs said he welcomed the news about the establishment of full [[Bahrain–Israel normalization agreement|diplomatic relations]] between [[Israel]] and [[Bahrain]].<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Rinkēvičs|first=Edgars|authorlink1= |title=I welcome the news about the establishment of full diplomatic relations between #Israel and #Bahrain, it will foster peace and stability in the region. I applaud the role of the United States for efforts to facilitate the normalisation of Israel-Bahrain relations|user=edgarsrinkevics|number=1304482412106330113|website=Twitter |format=Tweet |date=12 September 2020}}</ref> Rinkēvičs expressed deep concern over the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|escalation of hostilities]] in the disputed region of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] and called on [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]] to immediately halt fighting and progress towards a peaceful resolution.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2020|title=Lithuanian, Latvian FMs concerned over Armenia's large-scale provocation against Azerbaijan|newspaper=[[Trend News Agency]]|url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3305967.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929141233/https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3305967.html|archive-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> == Personal life == On 6 November 2014, he publicly announced on his [[Twitter]] profile that he is [[Homosexuality|gay]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/politics/foreign-minister-proud-to-be-gay.a105381/ |title=Foreign Minister 'Proud to be gay' |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |date=6 November 2014 |access-date=6 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/07/latvia-foreign-minister-edgars-rinkevics-comes-out-gay|title=Latvia's foreign minister comes out as gay|agency=Agence France-Presse |date=7 November 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> making him the first lawmaker in Latvia to announce his homosexuality, as well as the first openly gay head of state in an EU country.<ref>{{cite web |last=Potts |first=Andrew |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/latvia%E2%80%99s-foreign-minister-edgars-rinkevics-has-come-out-gay-twitter071114/#gs.O4w0wDBc |title=Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has come out as gay on Twitter |publisher=[[Gay Star News]] |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=8 November 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108211027/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/latvia%E2%80%99s-foreign-minister-edgars-rinkevics-has-come-out-gay-twitter071114#gs.O4w0wDBc |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="bloomberg"/> In addition to [[Latvian language|Latvian]], he is fluent in [[English language|English]], [[Russian language|Russian]], and [[French language|French]]. == Honours == === National === *[[File:LVA Order of the Three Stars - Commander BAR.png|55px]] Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the [[Order of the Three Stars]] (8 July 2023) *[[File:LVA Cross of Recognition.png|55px]] Grand Cross of the [[Cross of Recognition]] (8 July 2023) *[[File:LVA Order of Viesturs V kl.PNG|55px]] Commander Grand Cross of the [[Order of Viesturs]] (17 November 2004) *[[File:LVA Order of the Three Stars - Commander BAR.png|55px]] Grand Officer of the [[Order of the Three Stars]] (27 April 2007) *[[File:Comm Medal for Adv Lv Mem NATO.png|55px]] Recipient of the [[Commemorative Medal for Advancing Latvia's Membership to NATO]] (19 March 2004) *[[File:AM Par ieguldijumu BS attistiba.PNG|55px]] Recipient of the Medal of Honourable Merit for Contribution to Armed Forces Development (2000) === Foreign === *{{flag|Estonia}}: **First Class of the [[Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana]] (10 April 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://president.ee/et/teenetemargid/teenetemarkide-kavalerid/30937-edgars-rinkevics|title=President of the Republic of Estonia|website=president.ee|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> **Second Class of the [[Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana]] (2 April 2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://president.ee/et/teenetemargid/teenetemarkide-kavalerid/28672-edgars-rinkevics|title=President of the Republic of Estonia|website=president.ee|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> **Third Class of the [[Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana]] (5 December 2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://president.ee/et/teenetemargid/teenetemarkide-kavalerid/11865-edgars-rinkevics|title=President of the Republic of Estonia|website=president.ee|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> *{{flag|Finland}}: Commander First Class of the [[Order of the Lion of Finland]] (2013) *{{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross 1st Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (22 February 2019) *{{flag|Italy}}: **Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (14 January 2019)<ref>[https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/357181 Quirinale website]</ref> **Grand Officer of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (27 June 2005)<ref>[https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/165045 Quirinale website]</ref> *{{flag|Netherlands}}: Grand Officer of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]] (11 June 2018) *{{flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the [[Royal Norwegian Order of Merit]] (18 March 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Edgars&type=&aarstall=|title=List of recipients of Norwegian honours|access-date=2023-07-08|website=Royal Court of Norway}}</ref> *{{flag|Poland}}: Commander's Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland]] (2005) *{{flag|Ukraine}}: First Class of the [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Order of Merit]] (29 August 2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/diplomacy/rinkevics-receives-ukrainian-award.a471374/|title=Rinkevics receives Ukrainian award|date=2022-09-29|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> *{{flag|NATO}}: Recipient of the [[NATO Medal#NATO Meritorious Service Medal|NATO Meritorious Service Medal]] (2007) ==See also== *[[List of foreign ministers in 2021]] *[[List of current foreign ministers]] == Notes == {{Notelist}} == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == {{Commons category|Edgars Rinkēvičs}} *{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/about-the-ministry/minister-of-foreign-affairs|title=Edgars Rinkēvičs|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |language=en}} *{{Cite web|url=https://www.mk.gov.lv/en/amatpersonas/edgars-rinkevics|title=Edgars Rinkēvičs|date=21 August 2014|publisher=Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia |language=en}} * {{twitter|edgarsrinkevics}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]|years=2011–2023}} {{s-aft|after=[[Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš]] (acting)}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Egils Levits]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[President of Latvia]]|years=2023–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Latvia Presidents}} {{Foreign Ministers of the European Union member states}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rinkevics, Edgars}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Jūrmala]] [[Category:Latvian Way politicians]] [[Category:Reform Party (Latvia) politicians]] [[Category:New Unity politicians]] [[Category:Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia]] [[Category:Deputies of the 12th Saeima]] [[Category:Deputies of the 13th Saeima]] [[Category:Deputies of the 14th Saeima]] [[Category:Gay politicians]] [[Category:Gay diplomats]] [[Category:Latvian LGBT politicians]] [[Category:Latvian gay men]] [[Category:Presidents of Latvia]] [[Category:Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 2nd Class]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class]] [[Category:Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni]] [[Category:University of Latvia alumni]] [[Category:20th-century Latvian LGBT people]] [[Category:21st-century Latvian LGBT people]] [[Category:LGBT heads of state]]'