List of Presidents of Latvia: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Latvia from 1922 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Latvia, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Latvia: Edgars Rinkēvičs (in office since 2023).

Presidents of Latvia in order, with years in office

Jānis Čakste

Served: 1922–1927

First president of Latvia; he died in office in March 1927.

Gustavs Zemgals

Served: 1927–1930

Served one term.

Alberts Kviesis

Served: 1930–1936

Served one term.

Kārlis Ulmanis

Served: 1936–1940

Prime minister who took the presidency after Kviesis and ruled until the Soviet occupation in 1940.

Guntis Ulmanis

Served: 1993–1999

First president of restored Latvia, and a grandnephew of Kārlis Ulmanis.

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga

Served: 1999–2007

First woman president of Latvia, who served two terms.

Valdis Zatlers

Served: 2007–2011

Surgeon who dissolved parliament in 2011 and did not win a second term.

Andris Bērziņš

Served: 2011–2015

Businessman and former banker.

Raimonds Vējonis

Served: 2015–2019

First Green Party politician to become head of state in Europe.

Egils Levits

Served: 2019–2023

Former judge at the European Court of Justice.

Edgars Rinkēvičs

Served: 2023–present

Longest-serving foreign minister in Latvian history, elected by the Saeima on 31 May 2023 and in office since 8 July 2023.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Latvia

Who is the current president of Latvia?

The current president of Latvia is Edgars Rinkēvičs, in office since 2023.

Who were the previous presidents of Latvia?

The presidents and heads of state of Latvia listed on this page, in order, are: Jānis Čakste, Gustavs Zemgals, Alberts Kviesis, Kārlis Ulmanis, Guntis Ulmanis, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Valdis Zatlers, Andris Bērziņš, Raimonds Vējonis, Egils Levits, Edgars Rinkēvičs.

Who was the first president of Latvia?

Jānis Čakste was the first president of Latvia, in office 1922–1927.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Latvia and Edgars Rinkēvičs; Office of the President of Latvia (president.lv), LETA, BNN and Daily Baltic reports, including October 2026 coverage (checked Nov 2026). Presidents of the interwar republic (1922–1940) and since independence was restored in 1993; the Soviet period is not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

Presidents of other Europe countries