Indulis Emsis

Infobox_Prime Minister
name = Indulis Emsis


order = Prime Minister of Latvia
term_start = March 9, 2004
term_end = December 2, 2004
predecessor = Einars Repše
successor = Aigars Kalvītis
birth_date = Birth date and age|1952|1|2|mf=y
birth_place = Salaca, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
death_date =
death_place =
party = Green Party
spouse =
religion =

Indulis Emsis (born Salaca Village, Limbazi District, January 2, 1952) is a Latvian biologist and politician. He was Prime Minister of Latvia for ten months in 2004, the first Green politician to lead a country in the history of the world. He was Speaker of the Saeima, the Latvian parliament, in 2006—2007. Emsis' political views are described as rather conservative, unusual for members of green parties around the world.

Early life

Emsis graduated from Riga First Secondary School in 1970, and graduated from the University of Latvia with a degree in biology in 1975. In 1986, he received Ph.D., also in biology. Until 1990, he worked as a research scientist in environmental science. From 1976 to 1987 Emsis worked as a research associate at the scientific production association "Silava", and head of its labor protection laboratory between 1987 and 1989. Emsis also worked as deputy chairman of the Soviet Latvia's State NatureProtection Committee.

tart of political career

In 1990, he became one of founders of Latvian Green Party (LZP) and served as Minister for the environment in the 1990s, working especially for a clean Baltic Sea. He is currently one of the three chairpersons of the Latvian Green Party, which forms a part of The Greens and Rustics union.Emsis was included on the Green ticket for the 5th Saeima elections in 1993. Emsis was appointed special assignments minister of natural protection inMinistry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development in the government of Valdis Birkavs in 1993. Emsis also held the office in the government of Maris Gailis in 1994.

Emsis was elected to the 6th Saeima from the ticket of LNNK/LZP in 1995. As amember of the 6th Saeima, Emsis was elected to the parliament's Economic PolicyCommittee. Emsis was appointed special assignments minister of environment inthe ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development when Andris Skele's government was approved in 1995. Emsis again assumed the post when Skele returned with a new government in 1997, and also held it in the government of Guntars Krasts.

In 1996, Emsis was awarded the Three Star Order (3rd category). In 1998, Emsis was appointed head of a task force to prepare a developmentprogram for Latvia's small ports, and chairman of committee for assessment ofconformity of beaches and yacht ports.In 1998, Emsis joined the parliamentary group of the Labor Party, Union ofChristian Democrats and LZP. He was included on the three parties' joint ticketfor the 7th Saeima elections.In 1998, Emsis assumed the post of Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans' non-staffadvisor on environmental protection issues.

In 2000, LZP congress nominated Emsis as the party's candidate for Riga mayorahead of municipal elections. Emsis was elected to the Riga City Council formLZP ticket in March 2001, he worked as deputy chairman of the city council'sCity Development Committee.

In October 2002, Emsis was included on the ZZS ticket for the 8th Saeimaelections. Emsis was elected to Saeima, and was appointed deputy chairman of the ZZS parliamentary group. Emsis was elected head of the Economic, Agricultural,Environmental and Regional Policy Committee, he also worked on the PublicExpenditure and Audit Committee.

As prime minister

After the resignation of New Era Party leader Einars Repse's government, President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga assigned Emsis to form a new government; Saeima voted Emsis' government in office in March 2004.

On March 9, 2004, he became the prime minister of Latvia, leading a centre-right minority government consisting of The Greens and Rustics union, Latvia's First Party and Latvian People's Party. For most of time, the government was also supported by the leftist National Harmony Party.

Emsis was the first member of a Green Party to become Prime Minister of a country. On October 28, 2004, the government fell as the Saeima voted 39-53 against the government's budget proposal for the year 2005. He left office on December 2, 2004, when parliament confirmed Aigars Kalvītis of the People's Party as Prime Minister.

peaker of Saeima

Emsis returned to Saeima in December2004. In October 2006, Emsis was elected to the 9th Saeima from the ticket of the Union of Greens and Farmers. On November 7, 2006, he was elected Speaker of Saeima, defeating Sandra Kalniete of the New Era Party by 74 votes to 22. Retired on September 21, 2007, after starting criminal proceedings against him.