Raimonds Vējonis Becomes President of Latvia

Raimonds Vējonis Becomes President of Latvia

On July 8 the new President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis delivered his Presidential Oath of Office in the Latvian Parliament, thus officially taking office from his predecessor Andris Bērziņš.

“I swear that all of my work will be dedicated to the welfare of the people of Latvia. I will do everything in my power to promote the prosperity of the Republic of Latvia and all who live here. I will hold sacred and will observe the Constitution of Latvia and its laws. I will act justly towards all and will fulfil my duties conscientiously,” said Vējonis.

For the next four years, Vējonis will focus on the following priorities: national unity, national self-esteem, patriotism, and social justice.

Vējonis is Latvia’s fifth President since 1991, and ninth since the founding of the Republic of Latvia in 1918.

Saeima elected Raimonds Vējonis as the next President of Latvia on June 3. Previously Vējonis has served as Minister of Environmental Protection and more recently has been the Minister of Defence since 2014. He has been an MP multiple times from the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) party, and is currently co-chairman of the Green Party. This makes Vējonis the first “green” head of state in Europe as no other European president has been a politician from any other European green party.

Photo: Ministry of Defence

Text by: Latvian Institute ©