Anatolijs Gorbunovs also formerly known as Anatoly Valeryanovich Gorbunov (Russian: Анатолий Валерьянович Горбунов) (b. February 10, 1942 in Pilda parish, Ludza municipality, Latvia) is a Latvian politician who served as the parliamentary speaker during the last years of Soviet regime in Latvia and during the first years after the country regained its independence. In the latter capacity he was effectively the acting head of state before the election of the Fifth Saeima in 1993.
From 1974 to 1988, he held various positions in the Communist Party of the Latvian SSR, with his highest position being the secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvian SSR. Unlike most Communist Party members in Latvia, Gorbunovs supported the Latvian independence movement. From 1988 to 1990 he was Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (head of state). From 1989 to 1995, he was speaker of the Latvian parliament (first, of the Supreme Soviet of Latvian SSR, then Supreme Soviet of Republic of Latvia, then, of the Saeima, the parliament of the newly independent Latvia). During this period, Latvian independence was restored in 1991. As speaker of the parliament, Gorbunovs was acting president of the republic per the 1992 Constitution until 1993, when Guntis Ulmanis was elected president.[1]
Gorbunovs joined the Latvian Way party in 1993 and remained Speaker of the Saeima until 1995 and a member of parliament until 2002. Between 1995 and 2002, he served as Minister of Regional Development, Minister of Transportation and Deputy Prime Minister.
In 1995 Gorbunovs was awarded with the Order of the Three Stars. [1]