Vilis Krištopans

Vilis Kristopans ( born June 13, 1954 in Jarkowo, Omsk Oblast ) is Latvian politician and former Prime Minister of the Party Latvian Way ( Latvijas Cels ).

Biography

Transport Minister

The entrepreneur Kristopans was appointed by Prime Minister Guntars Krasts the Minister of Transport on 7 August 1997. He won respect for his energetic work that included, among other things, a reform of the public finance management system.

In early 1998 there was a minor scandal because he still belonged to several boards of companies in spite of his ministerial office. In an investigation of these activities and a resulting conflict of interest, he referred to his opponents as " provincial" and Latvia as "the land of fools ."

Prime Minister from 1998 to 1999 and change of party

In the 1998 parliamentary elections his party scored Latvian Way ( Latvijas Cels ) with 21 seats by the People's Party ( Tautas Partija ) of former Prime Minister Andris Šķēle the second best voting result. However, although the People's party had 24 of 100 members over most MPs, it was because of the political style of Šķēle to any coalition negotiations with the People's Party.

This meant that Kristopans after coalition talks with nationalist party For Fatherland and Freedom ( Tēvzemei ​​un Brīvībai ), which won 17 seats, and the centrist New Party ( Jaunā partija ), which had 8 mandates, on 26 November 1998 Prime Minister was. On 15 and 16 March 1999, there was a due to a government statement to a traditional meeting of the Latvian SS units to international criticism.

The Office of the Prime Minister he held until his defeat in a confidence vote on 5 July 1999 due to disagreements on the election of the President and the subsequent replacement by Andris Šķēle on 16 July 1999.

He then retired for several years out of politics, and also joined the party Latvian way out. From 2002 to 2006 he was a candidate of the Union of Greens and Farmers ( Zalo un Zemnieku Savieniba ) turn a deputy of the Saeima. He was, however, not once attended parliamentary debates.