Luxembourg swore in Xavier Bettel as its first openly gay prime minister on Wednesday, paving the way for the introduction of social reforms such as same-sex marriage.
Bettel replaces Jean-Claude Juncker, who was until Wednesday the European Union’s longest-serving head of government, with 19 years in power.
That distinction is now held by Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, who took office in April 2005.
Bettel, whose deputy Etienne Schneider is also openly gay, is expected to introduce other changes like replacing religious instruction in school with more general ethics classes.
Wedged between France, Germany and Belgium, Luxembourg is one of the world’s smallest countries, with just over half a million people. But it is a major financial centre, second only to the United States for investment funds, and a leading private banking hub.
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