Raimonds Vējonis
Latvia's first Green president, a soft-spoken biologist who brought environmental conviction to the highest office in the land.
Born 1966 (age 60)·President of Latvia from 2015 to 2019·Birthday: June 15·Generation X
Biography
Raimonds Vējonis steered Latvia with the steady hand of a scientist rather than the bombast of a career politician. A trained biologist and longtime member of the Green Party, his ascent to the presidency in 2015 was a historic first for an environmentalist in the European Union. His tenure was defined by a calm, consensus-seeking demeanor, a stark contrast to the region's rising political temperatures. While the Latvian presidency is largely ceremonial, Vējonis used its moral platform to advocate consistently for sustainability, clean energy, and the protection of Latvia's vast forests and bogs. He signed legislation committing Latvia to a 100% renewable energy goal and stood as a firm proponent of European unity and NATO's defensive shield, acutely aware of history's lessons for the Baltic states. After his term, he returned to his roots, leading the Latvian Basketball Association, blending his national service with a personal passion for sport.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Raimonds was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Raimonds Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Raimonds's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the 9th President of Latvia from 2015 to 2019, the first Green Party member to become a head of state in the EU.
- Oversaw Latvia's commitment to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 during his presidency.
- Previously served as Latvia's Minister of Defense and Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.
- Elected President of the Latvian Basketball Association in 2020.
Did You Know?
He holds a degree in biology from the University of Latvia.
Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher of biology and chemistry.
He is a vegetarian, a choice aligned with his environmental principles.
“A nation's strength is measured by its clean water and healthy forests.”
