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Prime Minister of Latvia facts for kids

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Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia
Flag of the Prime Minister of Latvia.svg
Evika Siliņa (Cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Evika Siliņa
since 15 September 2023
Government of Latvia
Member of
Appointer President
Term length No term limit
Inaugural holder Kārlis Ulmanis
Formation 19 November 1918; 106 years ago (1918-11-19)
Abolished 1940–1991
Salary €53,601 annually

The prime minister of Latvia (Latvian: ministru prezidents) is a very important leader in Latvia. This person is the head of the government. They lead the group of ministers who make decisions for the country.

The president of Latvia chooses who they think should be prime minister. But this person must also get enough support from the Saeima, which is Latvia's parliament. The parliament is where elected representatives make laws.

Latvia has had prime ministers during two main periods. The first was from 1918 to 1940. The second period started in 1990 and continues today. From 1990 to 1993, the leader was called the chairman of the Council of Ministers.

The official Latvian name for the prime minister means "minister-president." While this name is used in some European countries, in English, we usually say "prime minister."

List of Prime Ministers

This section shows all the prime ministers Latvia has had. It covers two different time periods.

Early Prime Ministers (1918–1940)

This list includes the prime ministers from Latvia's first time as an independent country.

Political party:       LZS       Independent       MP       DC       PA       LJSP

No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Time in Office Political Party Cabinet Saeima
Started Ended Days
1 Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 18 November 1918 13 July 1919 944 Latvian Farmers' Union Provisional I
LZS – LNP – DC – DS		 People's
Council
14 July 1919 8 December 1919 Provisional II
LZS – LŽNP
DC joined later
9 December 1919 11 June 1920 Provisional III
LZS – LŽNP
DS joined later
12 June 1920 18 June 1921 Ulmanis I
LZS – DS – LDP
DS exited later		 Const.
Assembly (1920)
2 Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics.jpg Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics
(1887–1925)		 19 June 1921 19 July 1922 587 Meierovics I
LZS – DC – MP – LTP
LTP exited later
20 July 1922 26 January 1923 Meierovics II
LZS – MP – LDP
3 Jānis Pauļuks.jpg Jānis Pauļuks
(1865–1937)		 27 January 1923 27 June 1923 152 Independent Pauļuks
LZS – LSPDS – DC – LJS – MP		 1st (1922)
(2) Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics.jpg Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics
(1887–1925)		 28 June 1923 26 January 1924 213 Latvian Farmers' Union Meierovics III
LZS – LSPDS – DC – LJS – MP
4 Voldemārs Zāmuēls.jpg Voldemārs Zāmuēls
(1872–1948)		 27 January 1924 18 December 1924 327 Independent Zāmuēls
BNC – DC – LJS
5 Hugo Celmiņš 1930s.jpg Hugo Celmiņš
(1877–1941)		 19 December 1924 23 December 1925 370 Latvian Farmers' Union Celmiņš I
LZS – DC
MP and LJS joined later
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 24 December 1925 6 May 1926 134 Ulmanis II
LZS – LJSP – LJS – LZP
NA joined later		 2nd (1925)
6 Arturs Alberings, premier Łotwy - fotografia portretowa.jpg Arturs Alberings
(1877–1934)		 7 May 1926 18 December 1926 226 Alberings
LZS – DC – LJSP – LJS – LZP
7 Marģers Skujenieks, Prime Minister of Latvia. Situational photography.jpg Marģers Skujenieks
(1886–1941)		 19 December 1926 23 January 1928 401 Menshevik Skujenieks I
LSDSP – MP – LPP – DC – LJS
DC exited cabinet
8 Jurasevskis P.jpg Pēteris Juraševskis
(1872–1945)		 24 January 1928 30 November 1928 312 Democratic Centre Juraševskis
LZS – DC – LZP – VRP / DbRP
(5) Hugo Celmiņš 1930s.jpg Hugo Celmiņš
(1877–1941)		 1 December 1928 26 March 1931 846 Latvian Farmers' Union Celmiņš II
LZS – DC – LJSP – LDZA – LA – KNP – VRP / DbRP
DC, KNP, VRP / DbRP exited cabinet		 3rd (1928)
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 27 March 1931 5 December 1931 254 Ulmanis III
LZS – LJSP – LDZA – NA – MKRA – LKZP – LPP
(7) Marģers Skujenieks, Prime Minister of Latvia. Situational photography.jpg Marģers Skujenieks
(1886–1941)		 6 December 1931 23 March 1933 474 Progressive Association of New Farmers Skujenieks II
PA – DC – LZS – LZPA
LJSP joined later		 4th (1931)
9 Adolfs Blodnieks.jpg Ādolfs Bļodnieks
(1889–1962)		 24 March 1933 16 March 1934 358 Party of New Farmers and Smallholders Bļodnieks
LJSP – LZS – DC – LZPA – PA – LKKP – KDP
DC, PA exited cabinet
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 17 March 1934 15 May 1934 2287 Latvian Farmers' Union Ulmanis IV
LZS – KA – LKKP – LPP – KDP
15 May 1934 19 June 1940 Independent Ulmanis V
Independent
— Кирхенштейн, Август Мартынович.jpg Augusts Kirhenšteins
(1872–1963)		 20 June 1940 25 August 1940 66 Independent
(Pro-LKP)		 Kirhenšteins
Independent – LKP

Modern Prime Ministers (1990–Present)

This list shows the prime ministers since Latvia became independent again on May 4, 1990. This happened after the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence.

Political party:       LTF       LC       Independent       TB/LNNK       TP       JL       LZP       LPP/LC       V       LP       JV

No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Time in Office Political Party Cabinet Saeima
Started Ended Days
10 Ivars Godmanis saeima.jpg Ivars Godmanis
(born 1951)		 7 May 1990 3 August 1993 1136 Popular Front of Latvia Godmanis I
LTF
LC joined later		 SC (1990)
11 Valdis Birkavs 2011-08-20.jpg Valdis Birkavs
(born 1942)		 3 August 1993 15 September 1994 408 Latvian Way Birkavs
LC – LZS – LZP		 5th (1993)
12 Māris Gailis 2011-08-20.jpg Māris Gailis
(born 1951)		 15 September 1994 21 December 1995 462 Gailis
LC – TPA – LZS – LZP
TB joined later and exited cabinet
13 Andris Šķēle, 10. Saeimas portrets.jpg Andris Šķēle
(born 1958)		 21 December 1995 13 February 1997 595 Independent Šķēle I
DP'S' – TB – LC – LNNK – LZS – LZP – LVP		 6th (1995)
13 February 1997 7 August 1997 Šķēle II
DP'S' – TB – LC – LNNK – LZS – LZP
KDS joined later
14 Guntars Krasts 2011-08-20.jpg Guntars Krasts
(born 1957)		 7 August 1997 26 November 1998 476 For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK Krasts
TB/LNNK – LC – LZS – LZP – DPS – KTP
DPS and KTP exited cabinet
15 Vilis Krištopāns 2022 (cropped).jpg Vilis Krištopans
(born 1954)		 26 November 1998 16 July 1999 232 Latvian Way Krištopans
LC – TB/LNNK – JP
LSDSP joined later		 7th (1998)
(13) Andris Šķēle, 10. Saeimas portrets.jpg Andris Šķēle
(born 1958)		 16 July 1999 5 May 2000 294 People's Party Šķēle III
TP – LC – TB/LNNK
16 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Andris Bērziņš (LPP-LC).jpg Andris Bērziņš
(born 1951)		 5 May 2000 7 November 2002 916 Latvian Way Bērziņš
LC – TP – TB/LNNK – JP
17 Einars Repse.jpeg Einars Repše
(born 1961)		 7 November 2002 9 March 2004 488 New Era Party Repše
JL – TB/LNNK – LZS – LPP – LZP
LPP exited cabinet		 8th (2002)
18 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Indulis Emsis.jpg Indulis Emsis
(born 1952)		 9 March 2004 2 December 2004 268 Latvian Green Party Emsis
TP – LPP – LZS – LZP
19 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Aigars Kalvītis.jpg Aigars Kalvītis
(born 1966)		 2 December 2004 7 November 2006 1113 People's Party Kalvītis I
TP – JL – LZS – LPP – LZP
JL exited cabinet
7 November 2006 20 December 2007 Kalvītis II
TP – LZS – LPP – TB/LNNK – LZP – LC		 9th (2006)
(10) Ivars Godmanis saeima.jpg Ivars Godmanis
(born 1951)		 20 December 2007 12 March 2009 448 Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way Godmanis II
LPP/LC – TP – LZS – TB/LNNK – LZP
20 Valdis Dombrovskis 2009.jpg Valdis Dombrovskis
(born 1971)		 12 March 2009 3 November 2010 1777 New Era Party Dombrovskis I
JL – TP – TB/LNNK – LZS – LZP – PS
3 November 2010 25 October 2011 Dombrovskis II
JL – PS – SCP – LZS – LZP – LP
JL, PS, SCP, LP later replaced by V		 10th (2010)
25 October 2011 22 January 2014 Unity Dombrovskis III
V – ZRP – NA		 11th (2011)
21 26.janvāra Saeimas ārkārtas sēde (24621032625) (cropped).jpg Laimdota Straujuma
(born 1951)		 22 January 2014 5 November 2014 750 Straujuma I
V – RP – NA – LZS – LZP
5 November 2014 11 February 2016 Straujuma II
V – NA – LZS – LZP – LuV – LP		 12th (2014)
22 Flickr - Saeima - 10.Saeimas deputāts Māris Kučinskis.jpg Māris Kučinskis
(born 1961)		 11 February 2016 23 January 2019 1077 Liepāja Party Kučinskis
V – NA – LZS – LZP – LuV – LP
23 Karins, Krisjanis-9702.jpg Krišjānis Kariņš
(born 1964)		 23 January 2019 14 December 2022 1696 New Unity Kariņš I
JV – JKP – KPV LV – A/P! – NA
KPV LV exited cabinet		 13th (2018)
14 December 2022 15 September 2023 Kariņš II
JV – NA – AS		 14th (2022)
24 Evika Siliņa (Cropped).jpg Evika Siliņa
(born 1975)		 15 September 2023 Incumbent 674 Siliņa
JV – ZZS – PRO

Timeline of Leaders

These timelines show when each prime minister was in office. Different colors show their political parties.

Leaders from 1919 to 1940

Augusts Kirhenšteins Ādolfs Bļodnieks Pēteris Juraševskis Marģers Skujenieks Arturs Alberings Hugo Celmiņš Voldemārs Zāmuēls Jānis Pauļuks Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics Kārlis Ulmanis

Leaders from 1990 to Today

Evika Siliņa Krišjānis Kariņš Māris Kučinskis Laimdota Straujuma Valdis Dombrovskis Aigars Kalvītis Indulis Emsis Einars Repše Andris Bērziņš Vilis Krištopans Guntars Krasts Andris Šķēle Māris Gailis Valdis Birkavs Ivars Godmanis

Key Facts About Prime Ministers

This table shares some interesting facts about the prime ministers. It shows their birth dates, how old they were when they started, and how long they served.

# Prime Minister Date of birth Age when first started Total time in office Age when last left office Date of death How long they lived
1 Ulmanis, KārlisKārlis Ulmanis 18770904September 4, 1877(September 4, 1877) 41 07541 years, 75 days 09 3349 years, 334 days 62 28762 years, 287 days 19420920September 20, 1942 &&&&&&&&&&023756.&&&&&023,75665 years, 16 days
2 Meierovics, ZigfrīdsZigfrīds Meierovics 18870206February 6, 1887(February 6, 1887) 34 13334 years, 133 days 02 0702 years, 70 days 36 35436 years, 354 days 19250822August 22, 1925 &&&&&&&&&&014076.&&&&&014,07638 years, 197 days
3 Pauļuks, JānisJānis Pauļuks 18651112November 12, 1865(November 12, 1865) 57 07657 years, 76 days 00 152152 days 57 22857 years, 228 days 19370621June 21, 1937 &&&&&&&&&&026153.&&&&&026,15371 years, 221 days
4 Zāmuēls, VoldemārsVoldemārs Zāmuēls 18720522May 22, 1872(May 22, 1872) 51 25051 years, 250 days 00 327327 days 52 21052 years, 210 days 19480116September 25, 1944 &&&&&&&&&&027631.&&&&&027,63175 years, 239 days
5 Celmiņš, HugoHugo Celmiņš 18771030October 30, 1877(October 30, 1877) 47 05047 years, 50 days 03 1213 years, 121 days 53 14753 years, 147 days 19410730July 30, 1941 &&&&&&&&&&023283.&&&&&023,28363 years, 273 days
6 Alberings, ArtursArturs Alberings 18760108January 8, 1876(January 8, 1876) 50 11950 years, 119 days 00 226226 days 50 34550 years, 345 days 19340426April 26, 1934 &&&&&&&&&&021292.&&&&&021,29258 years, 108 days
7 Skujenieks, MarģersMarģers Skujenieks 18860622June 22, 1886(June 22, 1886) 40 18040 years, 180 days 02 1452 years, 145 days 46 27446 years, 274 days 19410712July 12, 1941 &&&&&&&&&&020108.&&&&&020,10855 years, 20 days
8 Juraševskis, PēterisPēteris Juraševskis 18720323March 23, 1872(March 23, 1872) 55 30755 years, 307 days 00 312312 days 56 25256 years, 252 days 19450110January 10, 1945 &&&&&&&&&&026590.&&&&&026,59072 years, 293 days
9 Blzodnieks, AzdolfsĀdolfs Bļodnieks 18890724July 24, 1889(July 24, 1889) 43 24343 years, 243 days 00 358358 days 44 23544 years, 235 days 19620321March 21, 1962 &&&&&&&&&&026537.&&&&&026,53772 years, 240 day
— Augusts Kirhenšteins 18720918September 18, 1872(September 18, 1872) 67 27667 years, 276 days 00 06666 days 67 34267 years, 342 days 19631103November 11, 1963 &&&&&&&&&&033282.&&&&&033,28291 years, 46 days
10 Godmanis, IvarsIvars Godmanis 19511127November 27, 1951(November 27, 1951) 38 16138 years, 161 days 04 1244 years, 124 days 57 10557 years, 105 days Living &&&&&&&&&&026899.&&&&&026,89973 years, 235 days (living)
11 Birkavs, ValdisValdis Birkavs 19420728July 28, 1942(July 28, 1942) 51 00651 years, 6 days 01 0431 year, 43 days 52 04952 years, 49 days Living &&&&&&&&&&030308.&&&&&030,30882 years, 357 days (living)
12 Gailis, MārisMāris Gailis 19510709July 9, 1951(July 9, 1951) 43 03743 years, 37 days 01 0971 year, 97 days 44 16544 years, 165 days Living &&&&&&&&&&027040.&&&&&027,04074 years, 11 days (living)
13 Szkzēle, AndrisAndris Šķēle 19580116January 16, 1958(January 16, 1958) 37 33937 years, 339 days 02 1592 years, 159 days 42 11042 years, 110 days Living &&&&&&&&&&024657.&&&&&024,65767 years, 185 days (living)
14 Krasts, GuntarsGuntars Krasts 19571016October 16, 1957(October 16, 1957) 39 29539 years, 295 days 01 1111 year, 111 days 41 04141 years, 51 days Living &&&&&&&&&&024749.&&&&&024,74967 years, 277 days (living)
15 Krisztopans, VilisVilis Krištopans 19540613June 13, 1954(June 13, 1954) 44 16644 years, 166 days 00 232232 days 45 03345 years, 33 days Living &&&&&&&&&&025970.&&&&&025,97071 years, 37 days (living)
16 Bērziņš, AndrisAndris Bērziņš 19510804August 4, 1951(August 4, 1951) 48 27548 years, 275 days 02 1862 years, 186 days 51 09551 years, 95 days Living &&&&&&&&&&027014.&&&&&027,01473 years, 350 days (living)
17 Repše, EinarsEinars Repše 19611209December 9, 1961(December 9, 1961) 40 33340 years, 333 days 01 1231 year, 123 days 42 09142 years, 91 days Living &&&&&&&&&&023234.&&&&&023,23463 years, 223 days (living)
18 Emsis, IndulisIndulis Emsis 19520102January 2, 1952(January 2, 1952) 52 06752 years, 67 days 00 268268 days 52 33552 years, 335 days Living &&&&&&&&&&026863.&&&&&026,86373 years, 199 days (living)
19 Kalvītis, AigarsAigars Kalvītis 19660627June 27, 1966(June 27, 1966) 38 15838 years, 158 days 03 0183 years, 18 days 41 17642 years, 91 days Living &&&&&&&&&&021573.&&&&&021,57359 years, 23 days (living)
20 Dombrovskis, ValdisValdis Dombrovskis 19710805August 5, 1971(August 5, 1971) 37 21937 years, 219 days 04 3164 years, 316 days 42 17042 years, 170 days Living &&&&&&&&&&019708.&&&&&019,70853 years, 349 days (living)
21 Straujuma, LaimdotaLaimdota Straujuma 19510224February 24, 1951(February 24, 1951) 62 33262 years, 332 days 02 0202 years, 20 days 64 35264 years, 352 days Living &&&&&&&&&&027175.&&&&&027,17574 years, 146 days (living)
22 Kučinskis, MārisMāris Kučinskis 19611128November 28, 1961(November 28, 1961) 54 07554 years, 75 days 02 3452 years, 345 days 57 05657 years, 56 days Living &&&&&&&&&&023245.&&&&&023,24563 years, 234 days (living)
23 Kariņš, Arturs KrišjānisKrišjānis Kariņš 19641213December 13, 1964(December 13, 1964) 54 04154 years, 41 days 4 years, 235 days 58 years, 276 days Living &&&&&&&&&&022134.&&&&&022,13460 years, 219 days (living)
24 Evika Siliņa 19750803August 3, 1975(December 13, 1964) 48 04348 years, 43 days 00 304674 days Living &&&&&&&&&&022134.&&&&&022,13449 years, 351 days (living)
Notes
  • During the Independence War (1918–1920), other groups also tried to lead Latvia. Some people might list their leaders as prime ministers for those times.
  • On May 15, 1934, Prime Minister Ulmanis changed the government. He stopped parliament and banned all political parties. This created a period where he had strong, single-person rule.
  • Augusts Kirhenšteins was put in charge by Soviet authorities. The Latvian government does not officially recognize him as a prime minister.

Images for kids

  • Karlis Ulmanis

    Kārlis Ulmanis was Latvia's first prime minister.

  • Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics

    Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics served multiple terms.

  • Jānis Pauļuks

    Jānis Pauļuks was prime minister in 1923.

  • Voldemārs Zāmuēls

    Voldemārs Zāmuēls led the government in 1924.

  • Hugo Celmiņš 1930s

    Hugo Celmiņš served as prime minister twice.

  • Arturs Alberings, premier Łotwy - fotografia portretowa

    Arturs Alberings was prime minister in 1926.

  • Marģers Skujenieks, Prime Minister of Latvia. Situational photography

    Marģers Skujenieks led the government in two different periods.

  • Jurasevskis P

    Pēteris Juraševskis was prime minister in 1928.

  • Adolfs Blodnieks

    Ādolfs Bļodnieks served as prime minister from 1933 to 1934.

  • Кирхенштейн, Август Мартынович

    Augusts Kirhenšteins was appointed by Soviet authorities.

  • Ivars Godmanis saeima

    Ivars Godmanis was Latvia's first prime minister after regaining independence.

  • Valdis Birkavs 2011-08-20

    Valdis Birkavs served as prime minister in the early 1990s.

  • Māris Gailis 2011-08-20

    Māris Gailis became prime minister in 1994.

  • Andris Šķēle, 10. Saeimas portrets

    Andris Šķēle served as prime minister multiple times.

  • Guntars Krasts 2011-08-20

    Guntars Krasts was prime minister from 1997 to 1998.

  • Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Andris Bērziņš (LPP-LC)

    Andris Bērziņš was prime minister from 2000 to 2002.

  • Einars Repse

    Einars Repše led the government from 2002 to 2004.

  • Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Indulis Emsis

    Indulis Emsis was prime minister in 2004.

  • Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Aigars Kalvītis

    Aigars Kalvītis served as prime minister for three years.

  • Valdis Dombrovskis 2009

    Valdis Dombrovskis served as prime minister for several years.

  • 26.janvāra Saeimas ārkārtas sēde (24621032625) (cropped)

    Laimdota Straujuma was Latvia's first female prime minister.

  • Flickr - Saeima - 10.Saeimas deputāts Māris Kučinskis

    Māris Kučinskis was prime minister from 2016 to 2019.

  • Karins, Krisjanis-9702

    Krišjānis Kariņš served as prime minister from 2019 to 2023.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Primeros ministros de Letonia para niños

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