Egils Levits

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. He was a member of the European Court of Justice from 2004 to 2019.

Egils Levits
Levits in 2019
10th President of Latvia
In office
8 July 2019 – 8 July 2023
Prime MinisterKrišjānis Kariņš
Preceded byRaimonds Vējonis
Succeeded byEdgars Rinkēvičs
Judge of the European Court of Justice
In office
11 May 2004 – 17 June 2019
Preceded byFidelma Macken
Succeeded byNiilo Jääskinen
Vice-Prime Minister of Latvia
In office
3 August 1993 – 19 September 1994
PresidentGuntis Ulmanis
Prime MinisterValdis Birkavs
Minister of Justice of Latvia
In office
3 August 1993 – 19 September 1994
PresidentGuntis Ulmanis
Prime MinisterValdis Birkavs
Preceded byViktors Skudra
Succeeded byRomāns Apsītis
Member of Parliament
In office
7 July 1993 – 5 October 1994
Personal details
Born (1955-06-30) 30 June 1955
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union (now Latvia)
Political partyLatvian Way (1993–1994)
Spouse
​
(m. 1991)​
Children2
Parent(s)Ingeborga Levita
Jonass Levits
ResidenceRiga Castle
Alma materUniversity of Hamburg
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Lawyer
  • Jurist
Signature

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. In 2018, Levits was reappointed a judge of the European Court of Justice, having first been appointed in 2004. 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.

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