Luxembourg Prime Minister, the first EU leader who gets gay wedding
The prime minister, 42, announced in August 2014 its intention to marry Gauthier DESTENAY, a Belgian architect who was bound by contract civil union since 2010. On Friday, he became the first leader of the European Union (EU) who marries a person of the same sex.
Bettel announced DESTENAY Los Angeles Times that he had proposed marriage. "I said yes," said the premier. "I have only one life and I will not hide."
Bettel, a lawyer who became mayor of the city of Luxembourg at 38 years, has always been open about his sexuality and has minimized its importance. He has also stated that his second in the coalition government is also gay.
The civil ceremony, which was characterized by its privacy, took place at the seat of government of the capital of Luxembourg and was officiated by Lydie Polfer, mayor of the capital of the Grand Duchy and political godmother Bettel.
As reported by the website Luxembourg Wort, Polfer said Bettel had met when he was nine, when visiting her school when she was appointed mayor for the first time.
"I never imagined that 33 years later would be officiating the wedding and it would be with a man as adorable as Gauthier" Polfer said.
The prime minister, dressed in a navy suit and his partner, dark gray, exchanged rings, applauded by hundreds of people.
"Thanks to all the Luxembourgers," Bettel said after receiving her husband with a shower of rice and confetti.
Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, who was among the guests, said he attended "the wedding of a colleague," adding it was a "big moment" for his counterpart.
"Luxembourg is giving the image of a country advanced in social issues. Is a message sent at a time that homophobia increases in Europe, "said another friend of the couple, the francoluxemburgués journalist Stephane Bern.
Gay marriage was approved by the Luxembourg Parliament in June 2014 with 54 votes in favor and six against. Although the first same-sex wedding took place on January, Bettel wedding is one of the first of the Duchy since the law was passed.
Although the couple wanted to be discreet, the marriage of the young prime minister is considered a "nice post, a sign" of the evolution of Luxembourg society, a Catholic country, said Bernard Baumgarten, center director choreography in Luxembourg RTBF, the Belgian public television.
Bettel was appointed head of government in late 2013, after 18 years 'reign' of Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Christian Social party in power almost continuously since the end of World War II.
Bettel governs in alliance with two other secular parties, the Socialists and the Greens. Bettel is the first head of government to marry homosexual in the EU, but not in Europe.
The first Icelandic Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, in power since 2009, he married his wife in 2010, but Iceland is not part of the EU. For his part, former Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo is also openly gay.