Prime Minister of Latvia

Helping orphans the way you would do it

The Prime Minister of Latvia is the most powerful member of the Latvian government, and presides over the Latvian cabinet. The Prime Minister is nominated by the President of Latvia, but must be able to obtain the support of a majority of parliament.

The tables below display all Latvian Prime Ministers for both the first period when Latvia was independent (1918 - 1940) and since the country regained its independence (1990-now). From 1990 to 6 July 1993, the office was known as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, but is generally considered to have been the same role.

List of Prime Ministers (1918-1940)

Notes:

During 1918-1920 Independence War, Latvia was contested by two other governments: the government of Soviet Latvia, lead 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.
On 15 May 1934, prime minister Ulmanis dissolved the parliament and banned all political parties (including his own Farmer's Union), becoming a dictator.

List of Prime Ministers (1990-now)

Name Took Office Left Office Party
1 Ivars Godmanis 7 May 1990 3 August 1993 Latvian People's Front
2 Valdis Birkavs 3 August 1993 19 September 1994 Latvian Way
3 Māris Gailis 19 September 1994 21 December 1995 Latvian Way
4 Andris Šķēle, 1st time 21 December 1995 7 August 1997 (None)
5 Guntars Krasts 7 August 1997 26 November 1998 Fatherland and Freedom / National Independence
6 Vilis Krištopāns 26 November 1998 16 July 1999 Latvian Way
Andris Šķēle, 2nd time 16 July 1999 5 May 2000 People's Party
7 Andris Bērziņš 5 May 2000 7 November 2002 Latvian Way
8 Einārs Repše 7 November 2002 9 March 2004 New Era Party
9 Indulis Emsis 9 March 2004 (present) Green Party

See also: Lists of office-holders

	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1	Kārlis Ulmanis, 1st time	18 November 1918	19 June 1921	Latvian Farmer's Union
2	Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, 1st time	19 June 1921	26 January 1923	Latvian Farmer's Union
3	Jānis Pauļuks	27 January 1923	27 June 1923	Latvian Farmer's Union
	Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, 2nd time	27 June 1923	26 January 1924	Latvian Farmer's Union
4	Voldemārs Zamuels	27 January 1924	16 December 1924	Democratic Center Party
5	Hugo Celmiņš, 1st time	16 December 1924	25 December 1925	Latvian Farmer's Union
	Kārlis Ulmanis, 2nd time	25 December 1925	4 May 1926	Latvian Farmer's Union
6	Artūrs Alberings	4 May 1926	17 December 1926	Latvian Farmer's Union
7	Marģers Skujenieks, 1st time	17 December 1926	21 January 1928	Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party
8	Pēteris Juraševskis	21 January 1928	1 December 1928	Democratic Center Party
	Hugo Celmiņš, 2nd time	1 December 1928	24 March 1931	Latvian Farmer's Union
	Marģers Skujenieks, 2nd time	24 March 1931	23 March 1933	Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party
9	Ādolfs Bļodnieks	23 March 1933	17 March 1934	New Farmer's party (Jaunsaimnieku Partija)
	Kārlis Ulmanis, 3rd time	17 March 1934	22 June 1940	Latvian Farmer's Union (until 15 May 1934) none (after 15 May 1934)