Europe 1 with AFP 6:05 p.m., April 01, 2022
The tiny republic of San Marino, an enclave in Italian territory, adopted an openly gay head of state on Friday, which would be a "world first".
Paolo Rondelli was indirectly elected and will lead San Marino for the next six months as tradition dictates.
Paolo Rondelli is one of the "two captains regent", elected by indirect suffrage, who will lead San Marino, a micro-state of 34,000 inhabitants, for the next six months as tradition dictates.
On his Facebook account, Mr. Rondelli himself said that he will be "probably the first head of state belonging to the LGBT community", lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals.
"A historic event"
Marco Tonti, head of the Arcigay association in Emilia-Romagna, the Italian region in which San Marino is landlocked, hailed "a historic event".
"He is the first openly gay head of state and activist for the rights of the LGBT community," he said.
"There are precedents among heads of government and ministers but this is a world first for a head of state," he said.
Indeed, several governments are or have been led by personalities declared to be homosexual, including Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 2013, and the Icelandic Johanna Sigurdardottir (2009-2013).
"A day that fills me with joy and pride"
Italian politicians took part on Friday in the investiture of the two captains regent, including Justice Minister Marta Cartabia and Senator Monica Cirinnà, famous in the peninsula for her commitment to the rights of the LGBT community.
Mr. Rondelli is "a man of immense culture and great diplomatic and political experience. He fought for the rights of women and LGBT people in San Marino and not only", wrote Ms. Cirinnà on her account Facebook.
"It is a historic day that fills me with joy and pride because Paolo Rondelli will be from today and for the next six months the first head of state in the world belonging to the LGBT community", a- she added.