Siliņa was born inRiga[5] on 3 August 1975.[1] She studied at theUniversity of Latvia from 1993 to 1997, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in law and at theRiga Graduate School of Law for a master's degree in social sciences, international law, and European law.[6]
From 2003 to 2012, Siliņa worked as a lawyer specializing in international and domestic business law. Her clients included firms in telecommunications and IT as well as government bodies.[1]
Siliņa served as the Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Interior from January 2013 until 23 January 2019.[9] During her tenure as the Ministry of Interior's Secretary, Silina was praised for her openness to journalists, as well as for her fight againstsynthetic cannabinoids and their circulation in Latvia.[10][11] She also represented the Ministry in international organizations such as theUnited Nations,INTERPOL, andCEPOL.[12]
Following the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers led by Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš on 23 January 2019, she assumed the role ofParliamentary Secretary [lv] to the Prime Minister.[13][14]
On 6 December 2022, Siliņa was appointed as the Minister of Welfare in the Krišjānis Kariņš' cabinet.[16] Thenew cabinet was confirmed on 14 December.[17]
As the Minister of Welfare, increasing minimum income was one of her main objectives.[18] On 23 February 2023, she was appointed by the Prime Minister as a member of the newly formed Thematic Committee on European Union Funds.[19] On 4 July 2023, her Ministry brought to theSaeima ratification of theIstanbul Convention with somereservations and the non-support of the government partnerNational Alliance.[20][21]
Prime Minister of Latvia (2023–present)
Siliņa with Finnish Prime MinisterPetteri Orpo in Helsinki, 24 November 2023
On 16 August 2023, after the resignation ofKrišjānis Kariņš, the New Unity nominated Siliņa as a candidate for the post ofprime minister.[22] On 24 August, she was asked by PresidentEdgars Rinkēvičs to form a government.[23]
On 29 August,United List declined to be part of a four-party coalition government following the offer by Siliņa.[24] On 1 September, Siliņa indicated that she intended to forge a new parliamentary majority with theUnion of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) andThe Progressives (P).[25] Twelve days later she unveiled the composition of the new government, in which New Unity (JV) had seven ministries, ZZS four and P three, with Krišjānis Kariņš recalled as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[26]
The government coalition led by Siliņa won the confidence of the parliamentary majority in the Saeima on 15 September 2023, receiving 53 votes.[27] In her speech, the new Prime Minister emphasized the need to be more inclusive, which was interpreted as prioritizing gender equality and other progressive goals. For theRussian-speaking minority, inclusion assumes elimination of the "non-citizen" status and integration into the Latvian-based education system.[5] The government also aims to increase the military budget and complete the construction of the barrier on the country's border with Russia and Belarus.[5] Siliņa is the second woman to become prime minister of Latvia, followingLaimdota Straujuma in 2014–2016.[28]
Personal life
Evika Siliņa is married to Aigars Siliņš, with whom she has three children.[8][5]
As well as her native language ofLatvian, Siliņa is fluent in Russian and English.[1]
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