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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 the Government of Latvia. This person is like the head of the team of ministers, called the Cabinet. The president of Latvia chooses who will be prime minister. However, that person must get enough support from the members of the Saeima, which is Latvia's parliament.

The official Latvian name for this role is "minister-president." While some other European countries use a similar name, in English, we usually say "prime minister."

Who Has Been Prime Minister?

This section lists all the people who have served as prime minister of Latvia. We'll look at two main periods: the first time Latvia was independent (1918–1940) and since it became independent again (from 1990 until today). From 1990 to 1993, the leader was called the chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Early Prime Ministers (1918–1940)

Here are the political parties these leaders belonged to:       Latvian Farmers' Union       Independent       Mensheviks and Rural Workers       Democratic Centre       Progressive Association of New Farmers       New Farmers-Small Landowners Party

No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Took office Left office Days in office Political party Cabinet Saeima
1 Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 18 November 1918 13 July 1919 944 Latvian Farmers' Union Provisional I People's Council
14 July 1919 8 December 1919 Provisional II
9 December 1919 11 June 1920 Provisional III
12 June 1920 18 June 1921 Ulmanis I Constitutional Assembly
2 Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics.jpg Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics
(1887–1925)		 19 June 1921 19 July 1922 587 Meierovics I
20 July 1922 26 January 1923 Meierovics II
3 Jānis Pauļuks.jpg Jānis Pauļuks
(1865–1937)		 27 January 1923 27 June 1923 152 Independent Pauļuks 1st Saeima
(2) Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics.jpg Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics
(1887–1925)		 28 June 1923 26 January 1924 213 Latvian Farmers' Union Meierovics III
4 Voldemārs Zāmuēls.jpg Voldemārs Zāmuēls
(1872–1948)		 27 January 1924 18 December 1924 327 Independent Zāmuēls
5 Hugo Celmiņš 1930s.jpg Hugo Celmiņš
(1877–1941)		 19 December 1924 23 December 1925 370 Latvian Farmers' Union Celmiņš I
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 24 December 1925 6 May 1926 134 Ulmanis II 2nd Saeima
6 Arturs Alberings, premier Łotwy - fotografia portretowa.jpg Arturs Alberings
(1877–1934)		 7 May 1926 18 December 1926 226 Alberings
7 Marģers Skujenieks, Prime Minister of Latvia. Situational photography.jpg Marģers Skujenieks
(1886–1941)		 19 December 1926 23 January 1928 401 Menshevik Skujenieks I
8 Jurasevskis P.jpg Pēteris Juraševskis
(1872–1945)		 24 January 1928 30 November 1928 312 Democratic Centre Juraševskis 3rd Saeima
(5) Hugo Celmiņš 1930s.jpg Hugo Celmiņš
(1877–1941)		 1 December 1928 26 March 1931 846 Latvian Farmers' Union Celmiņš II
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 27 March 1931 5 December 1931 254 Ulmanis III
(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 4th Saeima
9 Adolfs Blodnieks.jpg Ādolfs Bļodnieks
(1889–1962)		 24 March 1933 16 March 1934 358 Party of New Farmers and Smallholders Bļodnieks
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)		 17 March 1934 15 May 1934 2287 Latvian Farmers' Union Ulmanis IV
15 May 1934 19 June 1940 Independent Ulmanis V
— Кирхенштейн, Август Мартынович.jpg Augusts Kirhenšteins
(1872–1963)		 20 June 1940 25 August 1940 66 Independent Kirhenšteins

Modern Prime Ministers (1990–Present)

Latvia regained its independence on May 4, 1990. Since then, new prime ministers have led the country. Here are the political parties these leaders belonged to:       Popular Front of Latvia       Latvian Way       Independent       For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK       People's Party       New Era Party       Latvian Green Party       Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way       Unity       Liepāja Party       New Unity

No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Took office Left office Days in office Political party Cabinet Saeima
10 Ivars Godmanis saeima.jpg Ivars Godmanis
(born 1951)		 7 May 1990 3 August 1993 1136 Popular Front of Latvia Godmanis I Supreme Council
11 Valdis Birkavs 2011-08-20.jpg Valdis Birkavs
(born 1942)		 3 August 1993 15 September 1994 408 Latvian Way Birkavs 5th Saeima
12 Māris Gailis 2011-08-20.jpg Māris Gailis
(born 1951)		 15 September 1994 21 December 1995 462 Gailis
13 Andris Šķēle, 10. Saeimas portrets.jpg Andris Šķēle
(born 1958)		 21 December 1995 13 February 1997 595 Independent Šķēle I 6th Saeima
13 February 1997 7 August 1997 Šķēle II
14 Guntars Krasts 2011-08-20.jpg Guntars Krasts
(born 1957)		 7 August 1997 26 November 1998 476 For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK Krasts
15 Vilis Krištopāns 2022 (cropped).jpg Vilis Krištopans
(born 1954)		 26 November 1998 16 July 1999 232 Latvian Way Krištopans 7th Saeima
(13) Andris Šķēle, 10. Saeimas portrets.jpg Andris Šķēle
(born 1958)		 16 July 1999 5 May 2000 294 People's Party Šķēle III
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
17 Einars Repse.jpeg Einars Repše
(born 1961)		 7 November 2002 9 March 2004 488 New Era Party Repše 8th Saeima
18 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāts Indulis Emsis.jpg Indulis Emsis
(born 1952)		 9 March 2004 2 December 2004 268 Latvian Green Party Emsis
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
7 November 2006 20 December 2007 Kalvītis II 9th Saeima
(10) Ivars Godmanis saeima.jpg Ivars Godmanis
(born 1951)		 20 December 2007 12 March 2009 448 Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way Godmanis II
20 Valdis Dombrovskis 2009.jpg Valdis Dombrovskis
(born 1971)		 12 March 2009 3 November 2010 1777 New Era Party Dombrovskis I
3 November 2010 25 October 2011 Dombrovskis II 10th Saeima
25 October 2011 22 January 2014 Unity Dombrovskis III 11th Saeima
21 26.janvāra Saeimas ārkārtas sēde (24621032625) (cropped).jpg Laimdota Straujuma
(born 1951)		 22 January 2014 5 November 2014 750 Straujuma I
5 November 2014 11 February 2016 Straujuma II 12th Saeima
22 Flickr - Saeima - 10.Saeimas deputāts Māris Kučinskis.jpg Māris Kučinskis
(born 1961)		 11 February 2016 23 January 2019 1077 Liepāja Party Kučinskis
23 Karins, Krisjanis-9702.jpg Krišjānis Kariņš
(born 1964)		 23 January 2019 14 December 2022 1696 New Unity Kariņš I 13th Saeima
14 December 2022 15 September 2023 Kariņš II 14th Saeima
24 Evika Siliņa (Cropped).jpg Evika Siliņa
(born 1975)		 15 September 2023 Incumbent 677 Siliņa

Timeline of Prime Ministers

These timelines show when each prime minister served.

1919–1940 Timeline

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

1990–Present Timeline

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

Prime Minister Facts

This table shares some interesting facts about the prime ministers, like how old they were when they started and how long they served.

# Prime Minister Born Age when first started Total time in office Age when last left office Died How long they lived
1 Kārlis Ulmanis September 4, 1877 41 years, 75 days 9 years, 334 days 62 years, 287 days September 20, 1942 65 years, 16 days
2 Zigfrīds Meierovics February 6, 1887 34 years, 133 days 2 years, 70 days 36 years, 354 days August 22, 1925 38 years, 197 days
3 Jānis Pauļuks November 12, 1865 57 years, 76 days 152 days 57 years, 228 days June 21, 1937 71 years, 221 days
4 Voldemārs Zāmuēls May 22, 1872 51 years, 250 days 327 days 52 years, 210 days September 25, 1944 75 years, 239 days
5 Hugo Celmiņš October 30, 1877 47 years, 50 days 3 years, 121 days 53 years, 147 days July 30, 1941 63 years, 273 days
6 Arturs Alberings January 8, 1876 50 years, 119 days 226 days 50 years, 345 days April 26, 1934 58 years, 108 days
7 Marģers Skujenieks June 22, 1886 40 years, 180 days 2 years, 145 days 46 years, 274 days July 12, 1941 55 years, 20 days
8 Pēteris Juraševskis March 23, 1872 55 years, 307 days 312 days 56 years, 252 days January 10, 1945 72 years, 293 days
9 Ādolfs Bļodnieks July 24, 1889 43 years, 243 days 358 days 44 years, 235 days March 21, 1962 72 years, 240 days
— Augusts Kirhenšteins September 18, 1872 67 years, 276 days 66 days 67 years, 342 days November 11, 1963 91 years, 46 days
10 Ivars Godmanis November 27, 1951 38 years, 161 days 4 years, 124 days 57 years, 105 days Living 73 years, 245 days (living)
11 Valdis Birkavs July 28, 1942 51 years, 6 days 1 year, 43 days 52 years, 49 days Living 83 years, 2 days (living)
12 Māris Gailis July 9, 1951 43 years, 37 days 1 year, 97 days 44 years, 165 days Living 74 years, 21 days (living)
13 Andris Šķēle January 16, 1958 37 years, 339 days 2 years, 159 days 42 years, 110 days Living 67 years, 195 days (living)
14 Guntars Krasts October 16, 1957 39 years, 295 days 1 year, 111 days 41 years, 51 days Living 67 years, 287 days (living)
15 Vilis Krištopans June 13, 1954 44 years, 166 days 232 days 45 years, 33 days Living 71 years, 47 days (living)
16 Andris Bērziņš August 4, 1951 48 years, 275 days 2 years, 186 days 51 years, 95 days Living 73 years, 360 days (living)
17 Einars Repše December 9, 1961 40 years, 333 days 1 year, 123 days 42 years, 91 days Living 63 years, 233 days (living)
18 Indulis Emsis January 2, 1952 52 years, 67 days 268 days 52 years, 335 days Living 73 years, 209 days (living)
19 Aigars Kalvītis June 27, 1966 38 years, 158 days 3 years, 18 days 41 years, 176 days Living 59 years, 33 days (living)
20 Valdis Dombrovskis August 5, 1971 37 years, 219 days 4 years, 316 days 42 years, 170 days Living 53 years, 359 days (living)
21 Laimdota Straujuma February 24, 1951 62 years, 332 days 2 years, 20 days 64 years, 352 days Living 74 years, 156 days (living)
22 Māris Kučinskis November 28, 1961 54 years, 75 days 2 years, 345 days 57 years, 56 days Living 63 years, 244 days (living)
23 Krišjānis Kariņš December 13, 1964 54 years, 41 days 4 years, 235 days 58 years, 276 days Living 60 years, 229 days (living)
24 Evika Siliņa August 3, 1975 48 years, 43 days 677 days Living 49 years, 361 days (living)

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 &&&&&&&&&&026909.&&&&&026,90973 years, 245 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 &&&&&&&&&&030318.&&&&&030,31883 years, 2 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 &&&&&&&&&&027050.&&&&&027,05074 years, 21 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 &&&&&&&&&&024667.&&&&&024,66767 years, 195 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 &&&&&&&&&&024759.&&&&&024,75967 years, 287 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 &&&&&&&&&&025980.&&&&&025,98071 years, 47 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 &&&&&&&&&&027024.&&&&&027,02473 years, 360 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 &&&&&&&&&&023244.&&&&&023,24463 years, 233 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 &&&&&&&&&&026873.&&&&&026,87373 years, 209 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 &&&&&&&&&&021583.&&&&&021,58359 years, 33 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 &&&&&&&&&&019718.&&&&&019,71853 years, 359 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 &&&&&&&&&&027185.&&&&&027,18574 years, 156 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 &&&&&&&&&&023255.&&&&&023,25563 years, 244 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 &&&&&&&&&&022144.&&&&&022,14460 years, 229 days (living)
24 Evika Siliņa 19750803August 3, 1975(December 13, 1964) 48 04348 years, 43 days 00 304684 days Living &&&&&&&&&&022144.&&&&&022,14449 years, 361 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.

See also

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

External Links

  • Official list from the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers: https://www.mk.gov.lv/en/ex-prime-ministers-republic-latvia





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