Andris Bērziņš (Latvian President)

Not to be confused with Andris Bērziņš (Latvian Prime Minister).

Andris Bērziņš
8th President of Latvia
In office 8 July 2011 – 8 July 2015
Prime Minister	Valdis Dombrovskis Laimdota Straujuma
Preceded by	Valdis Zatlers
Succeeded by	Raimonds Vējonis
Personal details
Born	(1944-12-10) 10 December 1944 Nītaure, Soviet Union (now Latvia)
Political party	Communist Party (Before 1990) Popular Front (1990–1993) Union of Greens and Farmers (2002–2011) Independent (2011–present)
Spouse(s)	Dzintra Bērziņa (past) Dace Seisuma (2011–present)
Children	5 children
Alma mater	Riga Technical University University of Latvia

Andris Bērziņš (born 10 December 1944) is a Latvian businessman and politician who was President of Latvia from 2011 to 2015. Bērziņš was the President of Unibanka from 1993 to 2004. He was elected as President by the Saeima on 2 June 2011.

Early career

Andris Bērziņš was born 10 December 1944 in Nītaure, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union. In 1958 he completed studies at a Nītaure primary school, and attended the 1st secondary school of Sigulda from 1958 to 1962. He then began studying at the Riga Polytechnical Institute, which he graduated in 1971, and became a radio engineer at the "Elektrons" factory. He worked his way up to director and in 1988 was appointed deputy minister of municipal services of the Latvian SSR. He also studied at the Economic Faculty of the Latvian State University, which he graduated in 1988.

In 1989 Bērziņš was elected to the Valmiera district Council (Soviet) of People's Deputies and was appointed chairman of the district's executive commission. In 1990 he was elected to the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR, representing Valmiera. He joined the Latvian Popular Front faction in the Supreme Council. On 4 May 1990 he voted in favor of the declaration that restored the independence of the Republic of Latvia.

After the completion of his term as deputy in 1993, Bērziņš became chairman of the Privatization Fund of the Bank of Latvia. He also became president of Latvijas Unibanka (a joint-stock company; 1993–2004). Bērziņš became a successful businessman and his estate exceeded 1 000 000 lats (by the mid 2000s). He also owned 30 various land properties. Bērziņš worked as an advisor to the president of the SEB Latvian branch and was a board member of several joint-stock companies, including Valmiera stikla šķiedra (Valmiera fiberglass) and Lode.

Political career

Andris Bērziņš returned to politics in 2005, when he unsuccessfully ran for the office of Mayor of Riga as the leader of the Union of Greens and Farmers party list. From 2006 to 2010 he served as the president of the Latvian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and was also Latvenergo's board chairman (until 2009).

In 2010 Andris Bērziņš was elected deputy of the Saeima from the slate of candidates presented by the Union of Greens and Farmers.

2011 presidential election

On May 23, 2011 Andris Bērzinš was nominated as a presidential candidate by five Union of Greens and Farmers deputies.

In the first round of the election (2 June 2011), Bērziņš received 50 votes for and 48 against, while Valdis Zatlers got 43 for and 55 against (99 lawmakers cast votes, but one was invalid), meaning no one was elected. In the second round, held later on the same day, Bērziņš received 53 votes, winning the election. Andris Bērziņš took office as President of Latvia on 8 July 2011.

2015 presidential election

On April 10, 2015 he announced he would not be seeking the Presidency for a second term.

On June 3, 2015 Raimonds Vējonis was elected as Bērziņš's successor and will take office on July 8, 2015.

Personal life

Andris Bērziņš married Dace Seisuma a couple of days before assuming office as President. It is his second marriage. Aside from his native Latvian, he speaks English, German and Russian. On 3 September 2012, Bērziņš threatened TV news crew which was filming him coming alongside his son on the first day of the school year: "Guys, you want me to beat you over the head? It's been a long time since you've been beaten?..."

Honours and awards

• Order of the Three Stars Class I with chain (2011)
• Order of Viesturs Class I (2011)
• The Cross of Recognition Class I (2011)
• Commander of Order of the Three Stars (2000)
• Commemorative pin for participants in the 1991 barricades (1996)

External links

• Chancery of the President of Latvia

Political offices
Preceded by Valdis Zatlers	President of Latvia 2011–2015	Succeeded by Raimonds Vējonis