Veiko Spolītis
Veiko Spolītis (born 5 September 1971) is a Latvian politician, representing the Unity party (Latvian: Vienotība). From 2014 until 2018, he served as an elected member of the Saeima.[1]
Biography[edit]
Veiko Spolītis was born in Riga to a Latvian father and an Estonian mother. Spolītis has two native languages: Latvian and Estonian.[1]
He obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Tartu in 1996.[1] He went on to get a master's degree in European studies and international relations in 1997 at the Central European University of Budapest, and a master's degree in history in 2003 at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.[2]
In 1998, he became a lecturer of European Studies at Riga Stradiņš University; a position he held until 2010.[2]
In 2012, he received the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana IV class, and in 2013 the Knight Order of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[1]
Political career[edit]
He was elected in 2001 on the Salaspils City Council as part of the list of the Latvian Farmers' Union.[3] After a stint as the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Defence,[4] he became Deputy Minister of Defense of Latvia from 2010 to 2013,[5][6][7]
In 2014, he made a bid to get elected to the 2014 Latvian parliamentary election but was defeated. Still, he won a temporary mandate in parliament while another contender who ran on the same electoral list of the Unity party but was elected, Edgars Rinkēvičs, fulfilled his duties as minister.[8]
A few days before he was set to join Parliament,Veiko Spolītis was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol.[9][10] His driver's license was revoked for two years.[11] He announced his withdrawal from the Unity party, but continued to work in Parliament as part of the New Unity faction.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Kümne minutiga eestlasest lätlaseks". Maailm (in Estonian). 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ a b "Veiko Spolīša emuārs: CV". Veiko Spolīša emuārs. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Wayback Machine". 2022-03-08. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Aizsardzības ministrija". 2013-08-31. Archived from the original on 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Kümne minutiga eestlasest lätlaseks". Maailm (in Estonian). 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ S.A, Telewizja Polska. "Latvian Russians appeal to Moscow 'NOT to help' them after language law passed". tvpworld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "STO News". www.sto.nato.int. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Saeimā ar "mīksto" mandātu strādās arī Abu Meri un Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis". www.diena.lv. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Deputātu Spolīti pieķer pie stūres 1,4 promiļu alkohola reibumā". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Dzērumā pie stūres pieķertais Spolītis pametīs partiju «Vienotība»". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Spolītis uz «pārdomu laiku» aptur darbību «Vienotībā»". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ LETA (2014-12-11). "Veiko Spolītis decides to take a break from working in Unity". Baltic News Network. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- 1971 births
- Living people
- Unity (Latvia) politicians
- Latvian Farmers' Union politicians
- Deputies of the 12th Saeima
- 21st-century Latvian politicians
- Academic staff of Riga Stradiņš University
- Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 4th Class
- Recipients of the Order of the Lion of Finland
- Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies alumni
- University of Tartu alumni
- Central European University alumni
- Latvian people of Estonian descent
- Politicians from Riga