The prime minister of Latvia ( lv, ministru prezidents) is the most powerful member of the Government of Latvia, who presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers. The officeholder is nominated by the

president of Latvia The president of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Valsts prezidents ) is head of state and commander-in-chief of the National Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia. The term of office is four years. Before 1999, it was three years. The president may be ...

, but must be able to obtain the support of a parliamentary majority in the Saeima. The tables below display all Latvian prime ministers from both the first period of Latvian independence (1918–1940) and since the country regained its independence (1990–present). From 1990 to 6 July 1993, the head of government was known as the chairman of the Council of Ministers. A direct translation of the official Latvian term is

minister-president A minister-president or minister president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments with a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government where they preside over the council of ministers. I ...

. Although the equivalent is used in some European languages, it is not used conventionally in English.

List

1918-1940

Political Party:

1940-1990

JANIS (VILIS) LACIS (1940-1959) Jānis Peive (1959-1963) Vitālijs Rubenis (1963-1970) Jurijs Rubenis (1970-1988) Vilnis Edvīns Bresis (1988-1990)

1990-present

From 4 May 1990 after adopting the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence of the Republic. Political Party:

Statistics

; Notes: During the 1918–1920 Independence War, Latvia was contested by two other governments: the government of Soviet Latvia, led by Pēteris Stučka, and the government of

Andrievs Niedra Andrievs Niedra ( old orthography: ''Andreews Needra''; 8 February 1871 – 25 September 1942) was a Latvian writer, Lutheran pastor and the Prime Minister of the German puppet government in Latvia between April and June 1919, during the Latvian ...

, backed by Baltic Germans. Some sources may list Stučka and Niedra as prime ministers for periods when their governments controlled most of Latvia. On 15 May 1934, prime minister Ulmanis dissolved parliament and banned all political parties (including his own ''Farmer's Union''), establishing authoritarian rule. Puppet leader appointed by Soviet authorities. Not recognized as such by the Latvian government.

References

External links

Official list from the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers
{{Prime Minister Latvia, Prime Minister of Lists of political office-holders in Latvia 1918 establishments in Latvia he:פוליטיקה של לטביה#ראש ממשלת לטביה