Luxemburg PM becomes first EU leader to marry same-sex partner

Luxembourg's prime minister has become the first EU leader to enter into a same-sex marriage after wedding his Belgian partner.

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (R) and Gauthier Destenay (L) pose for a photo after they got married in Luxembourg, 15 May 2015. Source: EPA

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has married his long-time partner, taking advantage of a recent change in the law to allow gay marriage.

Bettel's nuptials mark only the second time a European leader has entered into a gay marriage and the first time for a leader of an EU nation, according to media reports.

Gay marriage only became legal in Luxembourg in January.

The civil service in Luxembourg's city hall was officiated by Mayor Lydie Polfer. The prime minister had been engaged to Belgian architect Gauthier Destenay since August and together with him in a civil union since 2010.

Johanna Sigurdardottir, the former premier of Iceland, was the first European head of government to enter into a gay marriage while in office, in 2010.

Bettel, 42, said there would not be much of a honeymoon, as he is set to attend the Astana Economic Forum in Kazakhstan next week.

Bettel took office in December 2013, leading a coalition of Liberals, Greens and Social Democrats that ousted former prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker after 19 years in office.