Berzins takes office

RIGA - In the morning of July 8, Andris Berzins was sworn in to the office of the president, becoming Latvia’s eighth president and fourth since regaining independence in 1991, reports news agency LETA. The ceremony took place in the Saeima.
He replaces former President Valdis Zatlers, who was not re-elected for a second term.
Berzins vowed that his every effort will be “for the well-being of Latvia and its people,” and will do everything in his power to facilitate Latvia’s prosperity, abide by all laws according to Saeima and the Constitution, will be just towards all people and fulfill his duties as his conscience befits it.

Saeima Speaker Solvita Aboltina (Unity) bestowed upon Berzins Latvia’s highest honors - the Order of the Three Stars, the Order of Viesturs, and the Cross of Recognition (highest categories), so that the president, according to law, could bestow them upon others.
The inauguration ceremony was “an overwhelming emotional experience that can only be felt once in 60 years,” said Berzins after a flower-laying ceremony at Riga’s Freedom Monument. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) and Aboltina also participated in the ceremony, along with around 200 local residents and guests who had gathered to congratulate Berzins.
The new president has hit the ground running.

In an interview with daily Diena, he calls on citizens to take part in the July 23 referendum on Saeima’s dissolution. “Regarding the referendum, I urge everyone to participate and express their opinion,” he said. The president believes that opinions may differ, especially among those who have not expressed their opinion.

Berzins said that it is possible that the Strategic Analysis Commission could undergo reform. 
The Commission was established on July 2, 2004, on Vaira Vike-Freiberga’s initiative, after signing a joint order with then-Prime Minister Indulis Emsis (Union of Greens and Farmers). The aim of establishing the Commission was to create a long-term vision of the development of Latvia and its society in the context of today’s international processes, with the help of interdisciplinary and future based research.

“The Central Statistical Bureau’s census takers could not even find two million people in Latvia, because many of them have left the country against their will. Therefore it is necessary to think about who will live in Latvia during the next 20 years,” emphasized Berzins during his speech in Saeima.
“Our job is to bring these people back home. Encouraging speeches will not be enough, and I have decided to focus on improving the country’s economic situation,” said Berzins. The president is ready to prove that the instruments of power which are at his disposal will allow him to achieve many things in Latvia’s interests.

The president said he resolves to facilitate Latvia’s development, reduce regional differences and create an environment in which people would be willing to live, work and study.
With a nod to international relations, Berzins confirmed that Latvia will continue on its current course and fulfill its international commitments.

Speaking about Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs’ possible ambitions for higher office, Berzins on a Latvian State Radio talk show said that a person facing serious criminal charges, whose trial still continues, cannot be prime minister. This was in clear reference to Lembergs, the Greens/Farmers Union’s choice for PM, who is on trial for fraud and money laundering.
The person he will select for PM after the next elections will be based on voters’ choice and agreements among parties, the president said.

Berzins was born in the Vidzeme Province town of Nitaure in 1944. He graduated from Riga Polytechnical Institute in 1971 with a degree in radio engineering. Berzins also has a degree from the University of Latvia’s Economy faculty.
He had a successful career at the company Elektrons, where he started to work in 1970 as an engineer and eventually was appointed the company’s director. In 1988, Berzins was appointed deputy minister for public services.
In 1990, Berzins was elected to the Supreme Council where he was a member of the Popular Front group. He is one of the Supreme Council’s members who voted for the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on May 4, 1990.

In 1993, Berzins was appointed president of Latvijas Unibanka, and held the post until January 2004. From December 2006 to April 2009, Berzins was acting chairman of the Latvenergo council.
He attempted to return to politics in 2005 when he participated in Riga City Council elections as the leader of the Union of Greens and Farmers’ ticket, although he was not a member of the union. In the fall of 2011, he was elected to the 10th Saeima.

Latvia’s new president is a wealthy man, the value of his properties and assets makes him a millionaire. According to his income declaration, in 2006 he owned 30 land plots in various counties of Latvia. In 2007, Berzins sold his shares in the company Lode for 4,535,635 lats (6,478,000 euros). Taking office as a Saeima member in 2010, Berzins declared having taken loans worth more than 1,000,000 lats.

Berzins recently married his “significant other” - Riga Stradins Hospital doctor Dace Seisuma.
He takes office amidst a rising tide of dissatisfaction among the Latvian population with the way government is run - non-transparently and in the interests of the country’s wealthy elite.

The new president said he will do everything in his power “to foster the country’s economic growth.”