Prime Minister of Latvia (born 1975) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Evika Siliņa (born 3 August 1975) is a Latvian politician who has been the 24th Prime Minister of Latvia since September 2023.[1] She was Minister of Welfare and Member of the Saeima.
Evika Siliņa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Siliņa in September 2023 | |
| 24th Prime Minister of Latvia | |
| Assumed office 15 September 2023 | |
| President | Edgars Rinkēvičs |
| Preceded by | Krišjānis Kariņš |
| Minister of Welfare | |
| In office 14 December 2022 – 15 September 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Gatis Eglītis |
| Succeeded by | Uldis Augulis |
| Member of the Saeima | |
| In office 1 November 2022 – 14 December 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 August 1975 Riga, Latvia |
| Political party | Unity |
| Spouse(s) | Aigars Siliņš |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Latvia Riga Graduate School of Law |
Siliņa was born in Riga, Latvia on 3 August 1975.[2] She studied law at the University of Latvia and at the Riga Graduate School of Law.[3] From 2003 to 2012, Siliņa worked as a solo attorney focused on international and domestic business law.[4] She also provided legal services to telecommunications and internet companies and helped establish and advise non-governmental organizations during this time.[4]
On 16 August 2023, after the resignation of Krišjānis Kariņš, New Unity nominated Siliņa as candidate for prime minister.[5] On 24 August, she was asked by President Edgars Rinkēvičs to form a government.[6]
On 29 August, United List said they did not want to be a part of a four-party coalition government after an offer by Siliņa.[7] On 1 September, Siliņa said that she wanted to create a new parliamentary majority with the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and The Progressives (P).[8] Twelve days later she created a new government, in which New Unity (JV) had seven ministries, ZZS four and P three, with Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš hired as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[9]
The government coalition led by Siliņa won the confidence of the parliamentary majority in the Saeima on 15 September 2023, winning 53 votes.[10]
Siliņa said that she supports the Russian-speaking minority in the country and creating an education system based on the Latvian language.[2] She also wanted to increase the military budget and complete the construction of the barrier on the country's border with Russia and Belarus.[2] Siliņa is the second woman to become prime minister of Latvia.[11]
Siliņa is married to Aigars Siliņš.[2] They couple have three children.[2]
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