Andris Šķēle (born 16 January 1958 in Ape)[1] is a Latvian politician and Business oligarch. He has served two terms as Prime Minister of Latvia from 21 December 1995 to 7 August 1997, and from 16 July 1999 to 5 May 2000.[2]
During his first term of office, he was not associated with any political party. During his second term, he was a member of the People's Party which he founded in 1998. In 2003 he resigned from politics but remained, as he stated, "ordinary member" of the People's Party and was thought to have a considerable behind-the-scene influence in party. He returned to politics in 2009 and has resumed his role as the leader of the People's Party.
Andris Šķēle has often been associated with various corruption scandals and through his high political connections has been able to avoid prosecution.
Andris Šķēle is one of the wealthiest people in Latvia. The Baltic Times newspaper ranks him as the 15th wealthiest person in Baltic states, with a net worth of about 60 million euros.
| Preceded by Māris Gailis |
Prime Minister of Latvia 21 December 1995 – 6 August 1997 |
Succeeded by Guntars Krasts |
| Preceded by Vilis Krištopans |
Prime Minister of Latvia 16 July 1999 – 5 May 2000 |
Succeeded by Andris Bērziņš |
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