Prime Minister of Latvia

Last updated
Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia
Latvijas Republikas Ministru prezidents
Flag of the Prime Minister of Latvia.svg
Evika Silina (Cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Evika Siliņa
since 15 September 2023
Government of Latvia
Type Head of government
Member of
Appointer President
Term length No term limit
Inaugural holder Kārlis Ulmanis
Formation19 November 1918;106 years ago (1918-11-19)
Abolished 1940–1991
Salary€53,601 annually [1]

The prime minister of Latvia (Latvian : ministru prezidents) is the most powerful member of the Government of Latvia, who presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers. The officeholder is nominated by the president of Latvia, but must be able to obtain the support of a parliamentary majority in the Saeima.

Contents

The tables below display all Latvian prime ministers from both the first period of Latvian independence (1918–1940) and since the country regained its independence (1990–present). From 1990 to 6 July 1993, the head of government was known as the chairman of the Council of Ministers.

A direct translation of the official Latvian term is minister-president. Although the equivalent is used in some European languages, it is not used conventionally in English.

List

1918–1940

Political party:   LZS    Independent    MP    DC   PA   LJSP

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical partyCabinet Saeima
Took officeLeft officeDays
1 [1] Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)
18 November 191813 July 1919944 Latvian Farmers' Union Provisional I
LZS – LNP – DC – DS
People's
Council
14 July 19198 December 1919 Provisional II
LZS – LŽNP
DC joined later
9 December 191911 June 1920 Provisional III
LZS – LŽNP
DS joined later
12 June 192018 June 1921Ulmanis I
LZS – DS – LDP
DS exited later
Const.
Assembly
(1920)
2 Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics.jpg Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics
(1887–1925)
19 June 192119 July 1922587Meierovics I
LZS – DC – MP – LTP
LTP exited later
20 July 192226 January 1923Meierovics II
LZS – MP – LDP
3 Janis Pauluks.jpg Jānis Pauļuks
(1865–1937)
27 January 192327 June 1923152 Independent Pauļuks
LZSLSPDS – DC – LJS – MP
1st (1922)
(2) Zigfrids-Anna-Meierovics.jpg Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics
(1887–1925)
28 June 192326 January 1924213 Latvian Farmers' Union Meierovics III
LZSLSPDS – DC – LJS – MP
4 Voldemars Zamuels.jpg Voldemārs Zāmuēls
(1872–1948)
27 January 192418 December 1924327 Independent Zāmuēls
BNC – DC – LJS
5 Hugo Celmins 1930s.jpg Hugo Celmiņš
(1877–1941)
19 December 192423 December 1925370 Latvian Farmers' Union Celmiņš I
LZS – DC
MP and LJS joined later
(1) Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)
24 December 19256 May 1926134Ulmanis II
LZS – LJSP – LJS – LZP
NA joined later
2nd (1925)
6 Arturs Alberings, premier Lotwy - fotografia portretowa.jpg Arturs Alberings
(1877–1934)
7 May 192618 December 1926226Alberings
LZS – DC – LJSP – LJS – LZP
7 Margers Skujenieks, Prime Minister of Latvia. Situational photography.jpg Marģers Skujenieks
(1886–1941)
19 December 192623 January 1928401 Menshevik Skujenieks I
LSDSPMP – LPP – DC – LJS
DC exited cabinet
8 Jurasevskis P.jpg Pēteris Juraševskis
(1872–1945)
24 January 192830 November 1928312 Democratic Centre Juraševskis
LZSDC – LZP – VRP / DbRP
(5) Hugo Celmins 1930s.jpg Hugo Celmiņš
(1877–1941)
1 December 192826 March 1931846 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 19315 December 1931254Ulmanis III
LZS – LJSP – LDZA – NA – MKRA – LKZP – LPP
(7) Margers Skujenieks, Prime Minister of Latvia. Situational photography.jpg Marģers Skujenieks
(1886–1941)
6 December 193123 March 1933474Progressive Association of New FarmersSkujenieks II
PA – DC – LZS – LZPA
LJSP joined later
4th (1931)
9 Adolfs Blodnieks.jpg Ādolfs Bļodnieks
(1889–1962)
24 March 193316 March 1934358 Party of New Farmers and Smallholders Bļodnieks
LJSP – LZS – DC – LZPA – PA – LKKP – KDP
DC, PA exited cabinet
(1) [2] Karlis Ulmanis.jpg Kārlis Ulmanis
(1877–1942)
17 March 193415 May 19342287 Latvian Farmers' Union Ulmanis IV
LZS – KA – LKKP – LPP – KDP
15 May 193419 June 1940 Independent Ulmanis V
Independent
[3] Kirkhenshtein, Avgust Martynovich.jpg Augusts Kirhenšteins
(1872–1963)
20 June 194025 August 194066Independent
(Pro-LKP)
Kirhenšteins
Independent – LKP

1990–present

From 4 May 1990 after adopting the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence of the Republic.

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

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical partyCabinet Saeima
Took officeLeft officeDays
10 Ivars Godmanis saeima.jpg Ivars Godmanis
(born 1951)
7 May 19903 August 19931136 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 199315 September 1994408 Latvian Way Birkavs
LCLZSLZP
5th (1993)
12 Maris Gailis 2011-08-20.jpg Māris Gailis
(born 1951)
15 September 199421 December 1995462 Gailis
LCTPALZSLZP
TB joined later and exited cabinet
13 Andris Skele, 10. Saeimas portrets.jpg Andris Šķēle
(born 1958)
21 December 199513 February 1997595 Independent Šķēle I
DP'S'TBLCLNNKLZSLZPLVP
6th (1995)
13 February 19977 August 1997Šķēle II
DP'S'TBLCLNNKLZSLZP
KDS joined later
14 Guntars Krasts 2011-08-20.jpg Guntars Krasts
(born 1957)
7 August 199726 November 1998476 For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK Krasts
TB/LNNKLCLZSLZPDPS – KTP
DPS and KTP exited cabinet
15 Vilis Kristopans 2022 (cropped).jpg Vilis Krištopans
(born 1954)
26 November 199816 July 1999232 Latvian Way Krištopans
LCTB/LNNKJP
LSDSP joined later
7th (1998)
(13) Andris Skele, 10. Saeimas portrets.jpg Andris Šķēle
(born 1958)
16 July 19995 May 2000294 People's Party Šķēle III
TPLCTB/LNNK
16 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputats Andris Berzins (LPP-LC).jpg Andris Bērziņš
(born 1951)
5 May 20007 November 2002916 Latvian Way Bērziņš
LCTPTB/LNNKJP
17 Einars Repse.jpeg Einars Repše
(born 1961)
7 November 20029 March 2004488 New Era Party Repše
JLTB/LNNKLZSLPPLZP
LPP exited cabinet
8th (2002)
18 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputats Indulis Emsis.jpg Indulis Emsis
(born 1952)
9 March 20042 December 2004268 Latvian Green Party Emsis
TPLPPLZSLZP
19 Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputats Aigars Kalvitis.jpg Aigars Kalvītis
(born 1966)
2 December 20047 November 20061113 People's Party Kalvītis I
TPJLLZSLPPLZP
JL exited cabinet
7 November 200620 December 2007 Kalvītis II
TPLZSLPPTB/LNNKLZPLC
9th (2006)
(10) Ivars Godmanis saeima.jpg Ivars Godmanis
(born 1951)
20 December 200712 March 2009448 Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way Godmanis II
LPP/LCTPLZSTB/LNNKLZP
20 Valdis Dombrovskis 2009.jpg Valdis Dombrovskis
(born 1971)
12 March 20093 November 20101777 New Era Party Dombrovskis I
JLTPTB/LNNKLZSLZPPS
3 November 201025 October 2011 Dombrovskis II
JLPSSCPLZSLZP – LP
JL, PS, SCP, LP later replaced by V
10th (2010)
25 October 201122 January 2014 Unity Dombrovskis III
VZRPNA
11th (2011)
21 26.janvara Saeimas arkartas sede (24621032625) (cropped).jpg Laimdota Straujuma
(born 1951)
22 January 20145 November 2014750 Straujuma I
VRPNALZSLZP
5 November 201411 February 2016 Straujuma II
VNALZSLZPLuVLP
12th (2014)
22 Flickr - Saeima - 10.Saeimas deputats Maris Kucinskis.jpg Māris Kučinskis
(born 1961)
11 February 201623 January 20191077 Liepāja Party Kučinskis
VNALZSLZPLuVLP
23 Karins, Krisjanis-9702.jpg Krišjānis Kariņš
(born 1964)
23 January 201914 December 20221696 New Unity Kariņš I
JVJKPKPV LVA/P!NA
KPV LV exited cabinet
13th (2018)
14 December 202215 September 2023 Kariņš II
JVNAAS
14th (2022)
24 Evika Silina (Cropped).jpg Evika Siliņa
(born 1975)
15 September 2023Incumbent [2] 511 Siliņa
JVZZSPRO

Timeline

1919–1940

Augusts KirhenšteinsĀdolfs BļodnieksPēteris JuraševskisMarģers SkujenieksArturs AlberingsHugo CelmiņšVoldemārs ZāmuēlsJānis PauļuksZigfrīds Anna MeierovicsKārlis UlmanisPrime Minister of Latvia

1990–present

Evika SiliņaKrišjānis KariņšMāris KučinskisLaimdota StraujumaValdis DombrovskisAigars KalvītisIndulis EmsisEinars RepšeAndris BērziņšVilis KrištopansGuntars KrastsAndris ŠķēleMāris GailisValdis BirkavsIvars GodmanisPrime Minister of Latvia

Statistics

#Prime MinisterDate of birthAge at ascension
(first term)
Time in office
(total)
Age at retirement
(last term)
Date of deathLongevity
1 Kārlis Ulmanis September 4, 187741 years, 75 days9 years, 334 days62 years, 287 daysSeptember 20, 1942
2 Zigfrīds Meierovics February 6, 188734 years, 133 days2 years, 70 days36 years, 354 daysAugust 22, 1925
3 Jānis Pauļuks November 12, 186557 years, 76 days152 days57 years, 228 daysJune 21, 1937
4 Voldemārs Zāmuēls May 22, 187251 years, 250 days327 days52 years, 210 daysSeptember 25, 1944
5 Hugo Celmiņš October 30, 187747 years, 50 days3 years, 121 days53 years, 147 daysJuly 30, 1941
6 Arturs Alberings January 8, 187650 years, 119 days226 days50 years, 345 daysApril 26, 1934
7 Marģers Skujenieks June 22, 188640 years, 180 days2 years, 145 days46 years, 274 daysJuly 12, 1941
8 Pēteris Juraševskis March 23, 187255 years, 307 days312 days56 years, 252 daysJanuary 10, 1945
9 Ādolfs Bļodnieks July 24, 188943 years, 243 days358 days44 years, 235 daysMarch 21, 1962
Augusts Kirhenšteins [3] September 18, 187267 years, 276 days66 days67 years, 342 daysNovember 11, 1963
10 Ivars Godmanis November 27, 195138 years, 161 days4 years, 124 days57 years, 105 daysLiving
11 Valdis Birkavs July 28, 194251 years, 6 days1 year, 43 days52 years, 49 daysLiving
12 Māris Gailis July 9, 195143 years, 37 days1 year, 97 days44 years, 165 daysLiving
13 Andris Šķēle January 16, 195837 years, 339 days2 years, 159 days42 years, 110 daysLiving
14 Guntars Krasts October 16, 195739 years, 295 days1 year, 111 days41 years, 51 daysLiving
15 Vilis Krištopans June 13, 195444 years, 166 days232 days45 years, 33 daysLiving
16 Andris Bērziņš August 4, 195148 years, 275 days2 years, 186 days51 years, 95 daysLiving
17 Einars Repše December 9, 196140 years, 333 days1 year, 123 days42 years, 91 daysLiving
18 Indulis Emsis January 2, 195252 years, 67 days268 days52 years, 335 daysLiving
19 Aigars Kalvītis June 27, 196638 years, 158 days3 years, 18 days42 years, 91 daysLiving
20 Valdis Dombrovskis August 5, 197137 years, 219 days4 years, 316 days42 years, 170 daysLiving
21 Laimdota Straujuma February 24, 195162 years, 332 days2 years, 20 days64 years, 352 daysLiving
22 Māris Kučinskis November 28, 196154 years, 75 days2 years, 345 days57 years, 56 daysLiving
23 Krišjānis Kariņš December 13, 196454 years, 41 days4 years, 235 days58 years, 276 daysLiving
24 Evika Siliņa [3] August 3, 197548 years, 43 days511 daysLiving

See Also

Notes

1 During the 1918–1920 Independence War, Latvia was contested by two other governments: the government of Soviet Latvia, led by Pēteris Stučka, and the government of Andrievs Niedra, backed by Baltic Germans. Some sources may list Stučka and Niedra as prime ministers for periods when their governments controlled most of Latvia.

2 On 15 May 1934, prime minister Ulmanis dissolved parliament and banned all political parties (including his own Farmer's Union), establishing authoritarian rule.

3 Puppet leader appointed by Soviet authorities. Not recognized as such by the Latvian government.

References

  1. "IG.com Pay Check". IG.
  2. "Evika Siliņa | Ministru kabinets". www.mk.gov.lv. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  3. "Evika Siliņa | Ministru kabinets". www.mk.gov.lv. Retrieved 2025-01-06.