Andris Bērziņš (president) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andris Bērziņš
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Bērziņš in 2010
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| 8th President of Latvia | |
| In office 8 July 2011 – 8 July 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Valdis Dombrovskis Laimdota Straujuma |
| Preceded by | Valdis Zatlers |
| Succeeded by | Raimonds Vējonis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 December 1944 Nītaure, Latvian SSR |
| Political party | Communist Party (Before 1990) Popular Front (1990–1993) Union of Greens and Farmers (2002–2011) Independent (2011–present) |
| Spouses | Dzintra Bērziņa (past) Dace Seisuma
(m. 2011; div. 2016) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Riga Technical University University of Latvia |
Andris Bērziņš, born on December 10, 1944, is a well-known Latvian businessman and politician. He served as the President of Latvia from 2011 to 2015. Before becoming president, he was the head of a big bank called Unibanka for many years. The Latvian parliament, known as the Saeima, chose him as president in 2011.
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Early Life and Education
Andris Bērziņš was born in Nītaure, which was then part of the Soviet Union. He finished primary school in Nītaure in 1958. Later, he went to high school in Sigulda until 1962.
He then studied at the Riga Polytechnical Institute, graduating in 1971. He became a radio engineer at a factory called "Elektrons." He worked hard and eventually became the director there. In 1988, he became a deputy minister for city services in Latvia. He also studied economics at the University of Latvia, finishing in 1988.
Starting in Politics
In 1989, Andris Bērziņš was elected to a local council in Valmiera. He became the head of that council. In 1990, he was elected to the Supreme Council of Latvia, representing Valmiera. This was a very important time for Latvia.
He joined a group called the Latvian Popular Front. On May 4, 1990, he voted for a special declaration. This declaration helped to bring back Latvia's independence.
Business Career
After his time as a deputy ended in 1993, Bērziņš started working in finance. He became the head of the Privatization Fund at the Bank of Latvia. He also became the president of Latvijas Unibanka, a major bank, from 1993 to 2004.
Andris Bērziņš became a very successful businessman. He owned many properties and was quite wealthy. He also worked as an advisor for the Latvian branch of SEB Bank. He was also on the board of several companies, like Valmieras stikla šķiedra.
Return to Politics
Andris Bērziņš came back to politics in 2005. He tried to become the Mayor of Riga, the capital city, but he didn't win. He was the leader of the Union of Greens and Farmers party list.
From 2006 to 2010, he was the president of the Latvian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. He also chaired the board of a company called Latvenergo until 2009.
In 2010, Andris Bērziņš was elected as a deputy to the Saeima. He was part of the Union of Greens and Farmers group.
Becoming President in 2011
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On May 23, 2011, five deputies from the Union of Greens and Farmers suggested Andris Bērziņš as a candidate for president.
The election happened on June 2, 2011. In the first round, Bērziņš received 50 votes, while the current president, Valdis Zatlers, got 43 votes. No one won enough votes in the first round. In the second round, held later that same day, Andris Bērziņš received 53 votes. This meant he won the election! He officially became the President of Latvia on July 8, 2011.
Presidential Term Ends
On April 10, 2015, President Bērziņš announced that he would not seek a second term. He decided not to run for president again.
On June 3, 2015, Raimonds Vējonis was elected as the next president. He took office on July 8, 2015, succeeding Andris Bērziņš.
Local Election in 2017
In 2017, Bērziņš decided to run for a councilor seat in the Riga local election.
Personal Life
Andris Bērziņš married Dace Seisuma just a few days before he became president. This was his second marriage. He has five children.
He speaks several languages fluently, including his native Latvian, Russian, and English. He also speaks some German. He has said that learning Russian alongside English can be helpful for Latvians.
Honours and Awards
From Latvia
Grand Cross (1st Class) with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (2011)- Commander of Order of the Three Stars (2000)
Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of Viesturs (2011)
1st Class of the Cross of Recognition (2011)- Commemorative pin for participants in the 1991 barricades (1996)
From Other Countries
Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (2015)
See also
In Spanish: Andris Bērziņš (presidente de Letonia) para niños
