Egils Levits

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Egils Levits

| image = Egils Levits at the Enthronement of Naruhito (1).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Levits in 2019

| office = 10th President of Latvia

| term_start = 8 July 2019

| term_end = 8 July 2023

| primeminister = Krišjānis Kariņš

| predecessor = Raimonds Vējonis

| successor = Edgars Rinkēvičs

| office2 = Judge of the European Court of Justice

| succeeded2 = Dr. Ignas Žilinskas

| term_start2 = 11 May 2004

| term_end2 = 17 June 2019

| predecessor2 = Fidelma Macken

| successor2 = Niilo Jääskinen

| office3 = Vice-Prime Minister of Latvia

| term_start3 = 3 August 1993

| term_end3 = 19 September 1994

| president3 = Guntis Ulmanis

| primeminister3 = Valdis Birkavs

| office4 = Minister of Justice of Latvia

| term_start4 = 3 August 1993

| term_end4 = 19 September 1994

| president4 = Guntis Ulmanis

| primeminister4 = Valdis Birkavs

| predecessor4 = Viktors Skudra

| successor4 = Romāns Apsītis

| office5 = Member of Parliament{{Cite web|url=https://titania.saeima.lv/Personal/Deputati/Saeima_DepWeb_Archive.nsf/0/BD501916225525B1C22577A700293904/$FILE/levits.htm|title=Egils Levits – 5. Saeimas deputāts|publisher=Saeima|language=lv|access-date=15 June 2021}}

| term_start5 = 7 July 1993

| term_end5 = 5 October 1994

| signature = Egils_Levits_signature.svg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|6|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Riga, Latvia

| party = Latvian Way (1993–1994)

| spouse = {{marriage|Andra Levite|1991}}

| children = 2

| residence = Riga Castle

| alma_mater = University of Hamburg

| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|Lawyer|Jurist}}

| parents = {{ill|Ingeborga Levita|lv|Ingeborga Levita}}
Jonass Levits

| honorific_prefix =

}}

Egils Levits (born 30 June 1955) is a Latvian politician, lawyer, political scientist and jurist who served as the tenth president of Latvia from 2019 to 2023.{{Cite web |title=Edgars Rinkēvičs elected next President of Latvia |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/31.05.2023-edgars-rinkevics-elected-next-president-of-latvia.a510815/ |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://titania.saeima.lv/LIVS13/saeimalivs_lmp.nsf/0/ACA71C75FA1025D6C225840900247968?OpenDocument|title=Balsojums|website=titania.saeima.lv|access-date=20 January 2020}} He was a member of the European Court of Justice from 2004 to 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.vestnesis.lv/index.php?menu=doc&id=82705|title=Izraudzīti Latvijas tiesneši Eiropas Kopienu tiesā|publisher=Latvijas Vēstnesis|language=lv|access-date=3 June 2015}}

During the late Soviet-era, he was a member of the Popular Front of Latvia and contributed to the declaration of restored Latvian independence in 1990. He was vice-prime minister and minister for justice of Latvia from 1993 to 1994 and ambassador to Hungary, Austria and Switzerland from 1994 to 1995. He was then appointed a judge of the European Court of Human Rights, a position he held until 2004. He finished second in the indirect election for the president of Latvia in 2015, behind Raimonds Vējonis. Although an Independent, he was the candidate of the National Alliance.{{cite web|url=http://saeima.lv/en/news/saeima-news/23551-saeima-elects-raimonds-vejonis-as-president-of-latvia|title=Saeima elects Raimonds Vējonis as President of Latvia|date=4 June 2015|publisher=Saeima|access-date=4 June 2015}} In 2018, Levits was reappointed a judge of the European Court of Justice, having first been appointed in 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.tm.gov.lv/en/news/egils-levits-appointed-as-a-judge-at-the-court-of-justice-of-the-european-union|title=Raimonds Vējonis appointed as a judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union|date=1 March 2018|publisher=Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia|access-date=2 September 2018|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529133302/https://www.tm.gov.lv/en/news/egils-levits-appointed-as-a-judge-at-the-court-of-justice-of-the-european-union,|url-status=dead}} He is married and has two children: a son, Linards, and daughter, Indra. He published a book of memoirs in 2019.

He announced in early May 2023 that he would not run for reelection to the presidency and, on 31 May, Edgars Rinkēvičs was elected as his successor.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-31 |title=Latvian Parliament elects first openly gay president of a Baltic nation |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/latvian-parliament-elects-first-openly-gay-president-baltic-nation-rcna87077 |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Early life

Levits was born in Riga, into the family of Latvian Jewish engineer Jonass Levits and his mother, Latvian-Baltic German poet {{ill|Ingeborga Levita|lv|Ingeborga Levita}} (née Barga, pen name Aija Zemzare). In 1972, the family was expelled from the USSR for their Soviet dissident activities{{Cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/latvias-new-president-with-jewish-roots-sworn-into-office/ |title = Latvia's new president Levits sworn into office; parents are of Jewish origin |date=9 July 2019 |newspaper=The Times of Israel |access-date=18 July 2019}} and settled in West Germany, where Ingeborga's relatives lived. They lived in West Germany until 1990 when Latvia regained its independence.

Levits has stated in interviews that despite being of Jewish and German heritage, he identifies foremost as Latvian, and called on Latvian citizens of non-Latvian origin to adopt a similar stance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/a/51009149|title=Levits ir pret īpašumu atgriešanu ebreju kopienai|date=18 April 2019|website=delfi.lv|language=lv|access-date=12 August 2019}}

Political career

File:Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis tiekas ar Eiropas Kopienu tiesas tiesnesi Egilu Levitu (7995396024).jpg Valdis Dombrovskis in 2012 as a judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union]]

Levits has been involved in Latvian politics since the late 1980s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/egils-levits--lidz-sim-vienigais-pretendents-uz-prezidenta-amatu-kas-vins-ir.a310356/|title=Egils Levits – līdz šim vienīgais pretendents uz prezidenta amatu. Kas viņš ir?|last=Fridrihsone|first=Madara|date=24 February 2019|website=www.lsm.lv|language=lv|access-date=10 April 2019}} Levits became a member of the Popular Front of Latvia and a member of the Latvian Citizens' Congress established in 1989.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/egils-levits.a130963/|title=EGILS LEVITS|last=Fridrihsone|first=Madara|date=25 May 2015|website=www.lsm.lv|language=lv|access-date=10 April 2019}} Later, he joined the political club "Klubs 21" and in 1993 was elected a 5th Saeima deputy from the list of the party Latvijas Ceļš. In 2016, he was among the best paid EU officials. In 2018, he was named the "European Person of the Year in Latvia" by the European Movement – Latvia.

He has been an ambassador of Latvia to Austria, Switzerland and Hungary.

He is the co-author of the preamble to the Constitution of Latvia{{cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/saeima-adds-controversial-preamble-to-latvias-constitution.a89067/|title=Saeima adds controversial preamble to Latvia's Constitution|date=19 June 2014|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|access-date=3 June 2015}} and has been the head for Commission for Constitutional Law, working under the president together with lawyer Lauris Liepa.{{Cite web|url=https://skaties.lv/zinas/latvija/politika/prezidenta-kandidata-portrets-egils-levits/|title=Prezidenta kandidāta portrets: Egils Levits|last=Suhoveckis|first=Gatis|date=2 June 2015|website=skaties.lv|access-date=10 April 2019}}

=Presidential campaigns=

File:Valsts prezidenta vēlēšanas (18385674306).jpg during the 2015 presidential elections]]

Levits was named a presidential candidate by the National Alliance party in 2011 and 2015,{{Cite web |url=https://bnn-news.com/eu-court-judge-egils-levits-chances-of-becoming-latvia-s-president-increase-199095 |title=EU Court Judge Egils Levits' chances of becoming Latvia's president increase |date=3 April 2019 |publisher=Baltic News Network |access-date=10 March 2019}} coming second in votes in the final round to the minister of defense Raimonds Vējonis in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/politics/live-blog-closed-defense-minister-raimonds-vejonis-is-elected-as-latvias-next-president.a132150/|title=LIVE BLOG closed: Defense Minister Raimonds Vejonis is elected as Latvia's next president|last=Collier|first=Mike|date=3 June 2015|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|access-date=3 June 2015}} Levits was widely discussed as a potential frontrunner candidate for the presidency in early 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/public-figures-from-across-the-spectrum-offer-show-of-support-for-levits.a310072/|title=Public figures from across the spectrum offer show of support for Levits|date=19 February 2019|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|access-date=3 June 2015}} and on April 15 the parties of the ruling coalition announced that they would support Levits' candidacy.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leta.lv/eng/home/important/13414CFC-40B1-0772-755E-30C0A987A40E/|title=Coalition parties to nominate Levits for Latvia's president|date=19 April 2019|agency=LETA|access-date=3 June 2015|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503074407/http://www.leta.lv/eng/home/important/13414CFC-40B1-0772-755E-30C0A987A40E/|url-status=dead}} Latvia's parliament elected him on 29 May 2019.{{cite web |title=Latvian parliament elects former judge Levits president |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-election-president/latvian-parliament-elects-former-judge-levits-president-idUSKCN1SZ18R |date=29 May 2019 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=29 May 2019}}

=Presidency=

File:Secretary Blinken Meets With Latvian President Levits (51930474468).jpg during Blinken's visit to Latvia in 2022]]

File:Зустріч Глави держави з Президентом Латвії та Прем’єр-міністром Польщі 29.jpg and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Kyiv, 9 September 2022]]

File:Latvian President to MEPs Europe must be on the right side of history (52703873672).jpg in 2023]]

Levits was inaugurated in the Saeima on 8 July 2019. During his inaugural speech, he noted that "there is no ideal country, because that implies halted progress."{{cite web |title=Egils Levits officially becomes President of Latvia |url=https://bnn-news.com/egils-levits-officially-becomes-president-of-latvia-202695 |website=Baltic News Network |access-date=21 January 2020 |date=8 July 2019}} After the ceremony, he visited the Freedom Monument, laid flowers at the grave of Jānis Čakste, and received the keys to Riga Castle from outgoing president Raimonds Vējonis.{{Cite web |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/egils-levits-becomes-latvian-president.a324916/ |title=Egils Levits becomes Latvian president |date=8 July 2019 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |access-date=18 July 2019}} On July 10, he conducted his first foreign visit to Tallinn, Estonia, meeting with President Kersti Kaljulaid and Prime Minister Jüri Ratas.{{cite web |last1=Whyte |first1=Andrew |title=Estonia, Latvia presidents discuss cooperation, including in recycling |url=https://news.err.ee/960117/estonia-latvia-presidents-discuss-cooperation-including-in-recycling |website=ERR |access-date=21 January 2020 |date=10 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=President of Latvia Egils Levits will pay his first working visit to Estonia |url=https://www.president.lv/en/news/news/president-of-latvia-egils-levits-will-pay-his-first-working-visit-to-estonia-25800 |website=www.president.lv |access-date=21 January 2020 |date=9 July 2019}}

In August 2021, Levits made an official visit to Sweden, meeting King Carl XVI Gustaf to mark the centenary of diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of Latvian independence.{{cite web |title=The King holds an audience with Latvia's President |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/latestnews/thekingholdsanaudiencewithlatviaspresident.5.1af28464179eb669913b76a.html |website=Swedish Royal Court |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826130749/https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/latestnews/thekingholdsanaudiencewithlatviaspresident.5.1af28464179eb669913b76a.html |url-status=dead }}

In September 2021, Levits was accused of putting inappropriate pressure on members of the Development/For! party alliance to nominate his legal advisor Irēna Kucina to a position on the Constitutional Court. Levits admitted that a phone call with those party members had taken place, but denied making any threats and called the controversy a "misunderstanding".{{Cite web|title=President denies exerting inappropriate pressure on politicians|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/lavian-president-denies-exerting-inappropriate-pressure-on-politicians.a422742/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=eng.lsm.lv|language=en}}

According to the data of the public opinion research firm SKDS, in March 2023, 27% of Latvian citizens rated Egils Levits activity positively, and 64% negatively. On 10 May 2023, it became known that President Levits will not run in the 2023 Latvian presidential election on 31 May, although he previously announced his readiness to run for a second term.{{cite news |title=Levits will not run for second term as Latvian President |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/10.05.2023-levits-will-not-run-for-second-term-as-latvian-president.a508133/ |access-date=16 May 2023 |work=eng.lsm.lv |date=10 May 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Latvia's President Egils Levits reconsiders – will not run for re-election |url=https://bnn-news.com/latvias-president-egils-levits-reconsiders-will-not-run-for-re-election-245572 |access-date=16 May 2023 |work=Baltic News Network |date=11 May 2023}}

Judicial career

In 1995, Levits was elected representative of Latvia for European Court of Human Rights. Since 2004, he has been Latvia's representative to the European Court of Justice, where the mandate will expire in 2024.

Political views

Levits has expressed traditionally conservative views on issues in Latvian politics. During his time as a European judge, he has been involved in and commented on current developments in Latvia; for example, he said that neither the reception of refugees nor the Istanbul Convention violate the Constitution of Latvia. Levits has expressed scepticism about enacting major change to the financial system, calling Latvia one of the strongest economies in Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://nra.lv/politika/258451-levits-risks-ir-pazaudet-savu-valsti.htm|title=Levits: Risks ir – pazaudēt savu valsti|last=Avotiņš|first=Viktors|date=25 September 2018|website=nra.lv|language=lv|access-date=10 April 2019}}

Levits has also supported many initiatives to reduce the use of Russian language in Latvia, including promulgating amendments banning private universities to employ instruction in languages other than the official languages of the European Union,{{cite web |title=Latvian president promulgates rushed amendments on use of state language despite having reservations |url=https://bnn-news.com/latvian-president-promulgates-rushed-amendments-on-use-of-state-language-despite-having-reservations-224277 |website=Baltic News Network |agency=LETA |access-date=10 November 2021 |date=27 April 2021}} and reaffirmed that Latvian non-citizens (even Latvian-born) must first pass a Latvian literacy test to receive citizenship. Levits is not a member of any political party, and has expressed a wish to remain independent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2-eQTECbzc|title=Intervija ar Egilu Levitu, Eiropas Savienības Tiesas tiesnesi|date=14 February 2019|work=Rīta Panorāma|access-date=10 April 2019|publisher=LSM}}

In popular culture

On the 7 December 2019 episode of Saturday Night Live, Levits was portrayed by Alex Moffat, in a sketch that poked fun at Donald Trump's experience at the 2019 NATO summit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30160575/saturday-night-live-nato-paul-rudd-fallon-trump-baldwin-corden/|title='Saturday Night Live' Reimagined Trump's NATO Humiliation in a High School Cafeteria|last=Bruney|first=Gabrielle|date=8 December 2019|website=Esquire|access-date=8 December 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/saturday-night-live-pokes-fun-at-latvian-president.a341163/|title=Saturday Night Live pokes fun at Latvian president|date=9 December 2019|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|access-date=10 December 2019}}

Personal life

File:Valsts prezidenta vēlēšanas (18228040759).jpg (left) and daughter Indra (right)]]

Levits is married to Andra Levite, a gynecologist, and has a son named Linards and a daughter named Indra.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/izklaide/slavenibas/citi/kura-klus-par-nakamo-latvijas-pirmo-lediju.d?id=46054877&page=3|title=Noslēpumainākā kandidāte uz pirmās lēdijas godu|date=3 June 2015|website=delfi.lv|language=lv|access-date=10 April 2019}} In 2019, Levits released his first book Valstsgriba. Idejas un domas Latvijai 1985–2018 (Country's Will: Ideas and thoughts for Latvia 1985–2018) where he mentions articles, interviews and combines them with his personal opinion as a Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union.{{Cite web|url=https://www.la.lv/foto-atver-egila-levita-gramatu-valstsgriba-idejas-un-domas-latvijai-1985-2018/|title=FOTO: Atver Egila Levita grāmatu "Valstsgriba. Idejas un domas Latvijai"|last=Sprūde|first=Viesturs|date=15 February 2019|website=LA.lv|language=lv|access-date=10 April 2019}} Aside from his native Latvian language, he also knows German (from his time in Germany), English, French and Russian.

Honours

=National=

{{flag|Latvia}}: Grand Master and Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (8 July 2019)
{{flagu|Latvia}}: Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs (8 July 2019)
{{flagu|Latvia}}: Grand Master of the Cross of Recognition (8 July 2019)

=Foreign=

{{flag|Estonia}}: Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (19 April 2023){{cite web | url=https://president.ee/en/state-decorations/bearers-of-decorations/54805-egils-levits/ | title=President.ee }}
{{flag|Ukraine}}: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class (23 August 2021){{Cite web|title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №393/2021|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/3932021-39785|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|language=uk}}
{{flag|Luxembourg}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (13 March 2023)[https://www.vestnesis.lv/op/2023/51.19/ Vestnesis]
{{flag|Portugal}}: Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (12 April 2023){{cite web | url=https://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154&list=1 | title=ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas }}
{{flag|Poland}}: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (26 January 2023){{cite web | url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WMP20230000442 | title=Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 26 stycznia 2023 r. Nr rej. 46/2023 o nadaniu orderów i odznaczeń }}

Publications

{{cite book |title = Valstsgriba. Idejas un domas Latvijai 1985–2018 |trans-title=A Will for Statehood: Ideas and thoughts for Latvia 1985–2018 |location = Riga |date = 2019 |isbn = 9789984840567 |last1=Levits |first1=Egils}}
{{cite book |last1= Levits |first1= Egils |last2= Roses |first2= Allan |last3= Bot |first3= Yves |author-link1= Egils Levits |author-link3= Yves Bot |date= 2012 |title= The Court of Justice and the Construction of Europe: Analyses and Perspectives on Sixty Years of Case-law |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gzaBmD8DXJcC |language=en, fr |publisher= Springer Science & Business Media |isbn= 978-9067048972}}
Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit in Lettland. Osteuropa-Recht: Gegenwartsfragen aus dem sowjetischen Rechtskreis Osteuropa-Recht, Vol. 43, No. 4, p. 305-328, Vol. 43, No. 4, p. 305-328, 1997.
Der zweite Weltkrieg und sein Ende in Lettland. Lüneburg: Institut Nordostdeutsches Kulturwerk, 1996.
Die Wirtschaft der baltischen Staaten im Umbruch. Köln: Wissenschaft und Politik, 1992. (with Boris Meissner; Dietrich A Loeber; Paulis Apinis and others)
Lettland unter sowjetischer Herrschaft: die politische Entwicklung 1940-1989. Köln: Markus Verlag, 1990
Sowjetunion heute: Glasnost und Peristroika; Grundinformation. [Kiel]: 1989
Die baltischen Staaten: Estland — Lettland — Litauen. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1989. (with Hildegard Bremer) (in German)
Der politische Konflikt zwischen den Selbstbestimmungsbestrebungen und dem sowjetischen Herrschaftsanspruch in Lettland: eine regionale Fallstudie zur sowjetischen Nationalitätenpolitik. Marburg an d. Lahn: Johann-Gottfried-Herder-Institut, 1988.
Die baltische Frage im Europäischen Parlament. 1983. Bd. 22. S.9-37
Die demographische Situation in der UdSSR und in den baltischen Staaten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von nationalen und sprachsoziologischen Aspekten. 1981.