List of heads of state of Latvia

President of Latvia is head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Republic of Latvia. Each president to the day, but Gustavs Zemgals, has served two terms, the term of office is four years, before 1997 - three years. In event of absence of President Speaker of Saeima assumes the duties of the President, for example after restoration of independence of Latvia Anatolijs Gorbunovs was acting president.

Leaders of Latvia (1918-Present)

Republic of Latvia (1918-1919)

President

*Jānis Čakste (17 November 1918 - 16 April 1919) (1st time, Chairman of the Latvian People's Council; continues in opposition in northern Livonia to 3 July 1919)

Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic (1918-1920)

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee

*Pēteris Stučka (17 December 1918 - 22 May 1919) (in opposition from 17 December 1918 until 3 January 1919 and from 22 May 1919 until 13 January 1920), also Chairman of the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party)

Republic of Latvia (Restored, 1919-1940)

*Heads of the Government (16 April 1919 – 3 July 1919) (acting)
*Jānis Čakste (3 July 1919 - 7 November 1922) (2nd time, Chairman of the Latvian People's Council to 1 May 1920, then President of the Constitutional Assembly)
*Fridrihs Vesmanis (7 November 1922 – 18 November 1922) (acting)
*Jānis Čakste (18 November 1922 - 3 November 1925) (3rd time)
*Pauls Kalnins (3 November 1925 – 10 November 1925) (1st time, acting)
*Jānis Čakste (10 November 1925 - 14 March 1927) (4th time)
*Pauls Kalnins (14 March 1927 – 8 April 1927) (2nd time, acting)
*Gustavs Zemgals (8 April 1927 - 8 April 1930)
*Pauls Kalnins (8 April 1930 – 11 April 1930) (3rd time, acting)
*Alberts Kviesis (11 April 1930 - 11 April 1936)
*Kārlis Ulmanis (11 April 1936 - 21 July 1940) (From 1934, self-styled Vadonis (Leader))
*Augusts Kirhenšteins (21 July 1940 – 25 August 1940) (acting, not recognized internationally or by Latvian diplomats abroad)

Republic of Latvia in Exile (1940-1991)

=Acting Presidents Fact|date=February 2008=

*Vacant (17 June 1940 - 8 September 1944)
*Pauls Kalnins (8 September 1944 - 27 August 1945) (4th time, to October 1944 underground)
*Bishop Jazeps Rancans (27 August 1945 - 2 December 1969)
*Vacant (2 December 1969 - 21 August 1991)

=Heads of the Diplomatic Service Fact|date=February 2008=

*Kārlis Zariņš (17 June 1940 - 29 April 1963) (in London)
*Arnolds Spekke (29 April 1963 - 1 October 1970) (in Washington)
*Anatols Dinbergs (1 October 1970 - 21 August 1991) (in Washington)

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940-1991)

First secretaries of the Latvian Communist Party

*Janis Eduardovich Kalnberzins (25 August 1940 - 25 November 1959) (in exile in Russian SFSR from 1941 until 1944)
*Arvids Janovich Pelse (25 November 1959 - 15 April 1966)
*Augusts Eduardovich Voss (15 April 1966 - 14 April 1984)
*Boriss Karlovich Pugo (14 April 1984 - 4 October 1988)
*Janis Janovich Vagris (4 October 1988 - 7 April 1990) (leading role of the Party abolished on 11 January 1990)
*Alfreds Petrovich Rubiks (7 April 1990 - 24 August 1991)

Republic of Latvia (1991-Present)

Presidents

*Anatolijs Gorbunovs (3 May 1990 - 8 July 1993) (Chairman of the Supreme Council to 6 July 1993 (this office is declared to be that of the Head of State on 15 September 1992, then acting president))
*Guntis Ulmanis (8 July 1993 - 8 July 1999)
*Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (8 July 1999 - 8 July 2007)
*Valdis Zatlers (8 July 2007 - Present)

ee also

*Lists of office-holders