Riga - Ms Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a former Canadian citizen, was sworn in as president of Latvia yesterday, becoming the first female head of state in post-communist eastern Europe.
Ms Freiberga, a 61-year-old academic and former Montreal resident elected by parliament in mid-June, will replace Mr Guntis Ulmanis, Latvia's first post-Soviet president whose second and final term ended on Wednesday.
"Our aims are pretty clear, we have to reach economic prosperity. Social justice should reign," she said in a ceremony at the 19th century parliament building. Apart from naming the prime minister and acting as a political umpire in domestic politics, the president is a largely ceremonial figure.