On 15 September 2023, in an extraordinary session, the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) approved the composition of the new Cabinet of Ministers. The post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government led by Evika Siliņa will be assumed by Krišjānis Kariņš.
Krišjānis Kariņš began his political career in 2002 as a member of the Saeima and later became Chairman of the New Era parliamentary group. He served as Minister of Economics from 2004 to 2006, and was a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019, representing the European People’s Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament. Since 2018, Krišjānis Kariņš has also been Chairman of the Board of the New Unity alliance of parties. He took the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia in 2019.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania, U.S., followed by a PhD in linguistics. He speaks Latvian, English and German fluently and has a good command of French and Russian.
As from 2011, the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs was held by Edgars Rinkēvičs, who was inaugurated President on 8 July 2023.
Photo: Ieva Ābele, Saeima