Ivars Godmanis

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Ivars Godmanis
Ivars Godmanis

Incumbent
Assumed office 
20 December 2007
President Valdis Zatlers
Preceded by Aigars Kalvītis
In office
07 May 1990 – 03 August 1993
President Guntis Ulmanis
Preceded by Vilnis-Edvīns Bresis
Succeeded by Valdis Birkavs

Born 27 November 1951 (1951-11-27) (age 56)
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Political party LPP
LC

Ivars Godmanis (born November 27, 1951) is a Latvian politician. He was the first Prime Minister of Latvia after the country became independent from the Soviet Union, and he became Prime Minister for a second time in December 2007.

He was born in Riga. Godmanis served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1993, focusing primarily on Latvia's difficult economic transition from a communist to a capitalist economy. He later served as Finance Minister from 1998 to 1999. Though originally associated with the Latvian Popular Front, he later switched to the Latvian Way party, of which he is now chairman. In November 2006, following elections in which the Latvia's Way Party returned to Parliament, Godmanis became Interior Minister.

On December 14, 2007, Godmanis was nominated as Prime Minister by President Valdis Zatlers.[1] He was approved by parliament on December 20, with 54 votes in favor and 43 opposed.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Godmanis nominated for prime minister", The Baltic Times, December 19, 2007.
  2. ^ "Latvia’s old coalition back in power", Reuters (The Peninsula Online), December 21, 2007.



Political offices
Preceded by
Aigars Kalvītis
Prime Minister of Latvia
2007–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Vilnis-Edvīns Bresis
Latvian SSR
Prime Minister of Latvia
19901993
Succeeded by
Valdis Birkavs