Government of Latvia explained

Government Name:Latvian Government
Nativename:Ministru kabinets
Government Form:Central Government
Image Size2:250px
Document:Constitution of Latvia
Country: Latvia
Branch1:President
Branch1 Label1:Head of state (President)
Branch1 Data1:President
Branch1 Label2:Seat
Branch1 Data2:Riga Castle
Legislature:Parliament of Latvia
Meeting Place:Palace of Justice, Riga
Leader Type:Head of government
Leader Title:Prime Minister
Main Body:Cabinet
Appointed:President of Latvia
Headquarters:Riga
Departments:15 departments
Court:Supreme Court of Latvia
Seat:Palace of Justice, Riga

The Government of Latvia is the central government of the Republic of Latvia. The Constitution of Latvia (Latvian: Satversme) defines Latvia as a parliamentary republic represented by a unicameral parliament (Saeima) and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Ministru kabinets), which form the executive branch of Latvia.

Since the early 2000s cabinet meetings in Latvia have been open to the public. In June 2013, the Latvian government became one of the first in Europe to offer live internet broadcasts of cabinet meetings.

Current Cabinet of Ministers

PositionNamePartyDates
Prime MinisterEvika SiliņaNew Unity15 September 2023 –
Minister for DefenceAndris SprūdsThe Progressives15 September 2023 –
Minister for Foreign AffairsKrišjānis KariņšNew Unity15 September 2023 –
Minister for EconomicsViktors ValainisUnion of Greens and Farmers15 September 2023 –
Minister for FinanceArvils AšeradensNew Unity14 December 2022 –
Minister for the InteriorRihards KozlovskisNew Unity15 September 2023 –
Minister for Education and ScienceAnda ČakšaNew Unity14 December 2022 –
Minister for Climate and EnergyKaspars MelnisUnion of Greens and Farmers15 September 2023 –
Minister for CultureAgnese LoginaThe Progressives15 September 2023 –
Minister for WelfareUldis AugulisUnion of Greens and Farmers15 September 2023 –
Minister for TransportKaspars BriškensThe Progressives15 September 2023 –
Minister for JusticeInese Lībiņa-EgnereNew Unity14 December 2022 –
Minister for HealthHosams Abu MeriNew Unity15 September 2023 –
Inga BērziņaNew Unity15 September 2023 –
Minister for AgricultureArmands KrauzeUnion of Greens and Farmers15 September 2023 –

List of governments

GovernmentDatesPrime MinisterCoalition parties
1stProvisional18 November 1918 – 11 June 1920width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Kārlis UlmanisLZS, LRDP, DS, LRP, LNP
2ndUlmanis I20 June 1920 – 18 June 1921width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Kārlis UlmanisLZS, DS, ENDP, DP, LgZP
3rdMeierovics I19 June 1921 – 18 July 1922width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Zigfrīds Anna MeierovicsLZS, DP, LgZP, SDML, LTP
4thMeierovics II20 July 1922 – 26 January 1923width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Zigfrīds Anna MeierovicsLZS, DP, LgZP, SDML
5thPauļuks27 January 1923 – 27 June 1923Jānis PauļuksDC, LZS, LKZS, JS, LSDSP, SDML
6thMeierovics III28 June 1923 – 26 January 1924width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Zigfrīds Anna MeierovicsLZS, DC, LgZP, LSDSP, LKZS, SDML
7thZāmuēls25 January 1924 – 17 December 1924Voldemārs ZāmuēlsBPNC, DC, LKZS, JS
8thCelmiņš19 December 1924 – 23 December 1925width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Hugo CelmiņšLZS, DC, JS, SDML
9thUlmanis II24 December 1925 – 6 May 1926width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Kārlis UlmanisLZS, LKZS, LgZP, LJSP, JS, NA
10thAlberings7 May 1926 – 18 December 1926width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Arturs AlberingsLZS, DC, LJSP, JS, LgZP
11thSkujenieks I19 December 1926 – 23 January 1928width=5px style="background-color: coralMarģers SkujenieksSDML, LSDSP, DC, PTA, JS
12thJuraševskis24 January 1928 – 30 November 1928width=5px style="background-color: darkgreyPēteris JuraševskisDC, KZKP, LgZP, LZS, DbRP
13thCelmiņš II1 December 1928 – 26 March 1931width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Hugo CelmiņšLZS, DC, KA, KZKP, LDZA, LJSP, NA, DbRP
14thUlmanis III27 March 1931 – 5 December 1931width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Kārlis UlmanisLZS, KZKP, LZPA, LJSP, MKRA, NA
15thSkujenieks II6 December 1931 – 23 March 1933width=5px style="background-color: darkredMarģers SkujenieksPA, LZS, DC, LZPA, LJSP
16thBļodnieks24 March 1933 – 16 March 1934width=5px style="background-color: blueĀdolfs BļodnieksLJSP, KZKP, PA, LZS, DC, LZPA, KA
17thUlmanis IV17 March 1934 – 15 May 1934width=5px style="background-color: #D1E231"Kārlis UlmanisLZS, KDB, KZKP, LZPA
18thUlmanis V16 May 1934 – 19 June 1940width=5px style="background-color: noneKārlis UlmanisAuthoritarian régime
19thKirhenšteins20 June 1940 – 25 August 1940width=5px style="background-color: noneAugusts KirhenšteinsSoviet occupation
Alternating Soviet and Nazi régimes. See Latvian Diplomatic Service in exile.
20thGodmanis I7 May 1990 – 3 August 1993width=5px style="background-color: "Ivars GodmanisLTF, LC
21stBirkavs3 August 1993 – 19 September 1994Valdis BirkavsLC, LZS, LZP
22ndGailis19 September 1994 – 21 December 1995Māris GailisLC, TPA, LZS, LZP, TB
23rdŠķēle I21 December 1995 – 13 February 1997Andris ŠķēleDPS, TB, LC, LNNK, LZS, LZP, LVP
24thŠķēle II13 February 1997 – 7 August 1997Andris ŠķēleDPS, TB, LC, LNNK, LZS, LZP, KDS
25thKrasts7 August 1997 – 26 November 1998Guntars KrastsTB/LNNK, LC, LZS, LZP, DPS, KTP
26thKrištopans26 November 1998 – 16 July 1999Vilis KrištopansLC, TB, JP, LSDSP
27thŠķēle III16 July 1999 – 5 May 2000Andris ŠķēleTP, LC, TB/LNNK
28thBērziņš5 May 2000 – 7 November 2002Andris BērziņšLC, TP, TB/LNNK, JP
29thRepše7 November 2002 – 9 March 2004Einars RepšeJL, ZZS, TB/LNNK, LPP
30thEmsis9 March 2004 – 2 December 2004Indulis EmsisZZS, TP, LPP
31stKalvītis I2 December 2004 – 7 November 2006Aigars KalvītisTP, ZZS, LPP, JL
32ndKalvītis II7 November 2006 – 20 December 2007Aigars KalvītisTP, ZZS, LPP/LC, TB/LNNK
33rdGodmanis II20 December 2007 – 12 March 2009Ivars GodmanisLPP/LC, TP, ZZS, TB/LNNK
34thDombrovskis I12 March 2009 – 3 November 2010Valdis DombrovskisJL, TP, ZZS, TB/LNNK, PS
35thDombrovskis II3 November 2010 – 25 October 2011Valdis DombrovskisUnity, ZZS
36th25 October 2011 – 22 January 2014Unity, RP, NA
37th22 January 2014 – 5 November 2014Unity, RP, NA, ZZS
38th5 November 2014 – 11 February 2016Unity, NA, ZZS
39th11 February 2016 – 23 January 2019Unity, NA, ZZS
40th23 January 2019 – 14 December 2022K, AP!, NA, KPV LV (2019–2021), JV
41st14 December 2022 – 15 September 2023JV, AS, NA
42ndSIliņa15 September 2023 – PresentJV, ZZS, PRO

References