Known for long-term anti Russian sentiment! He took office as the President of Latvia | Linkevics | President
According to the Associated Press, Edgar Linkovics was sworn in as the President of Latvia on July 8th, serving a four-year term. Linkovics has long served as the Foreign Minister of Latvia and is known for taking a tough line against neighboring Russia and strongly supporting Ukraine.
According to reports, Linkovics, who has been serving as Latvia's highest diplomat since 2011, was sworn in at a special parliamentary meeting held in the capital Riga. He succeeded Egels Levitz, who had not sought re-election.
49 year old Linkovics was elected president in a competition with two other candidates at the end of May. He ran as a candidate for both himself and the new Unity Party to which Prime Minister Krishyanis Kalush belongs.
The report points out that Linkovics is the seventh president of Latvia since its independence in 1991. Latvia has a population of over 1.8 million and is a member of the European Union and NATO.
The report states that the President of Latvia is largely a ceremonial position. Almost one-third of the country's residents speak Russian as their first language.
The powers of the President of Latvia include representing Latvia abroad, serving as the highest commander of the armed forces, signing bills into law, nominating the Prime Minister, and having the power to dissolve parliament.