Kalvītis, Aigars (Latvia)

Introduction

Aigars Kalvītis was prime minister from Dec. 2004–Dec. 2007. Prior to taking office, his ministerial responsibilities included 2 years as minister of economics and one as minister of agriculture. His centre-right coalition administration became Latvia’s first government since independence to be returned to power in parliamentary elections in Oct. 2006. On 20 Dec. 2007 a new coalition government was approved after Kalvītis resigned amid widespread opposition.

Early Life

Born in Riga in 1966, Kalvītis is a former milkman and tractor driver. He first graduated in 1992 from the Latvian University of Agriculture with a degree in agricultural economics. This was supplemented by a master’s degree in the same subject gained in 1995. In addition he was awarded a master’s degree in food industry business administration from University College Cork in Ireland in 1993 and completed in-service training with the Holstein Association at the University of Wisconsin, USA. From 1992–98 he...