Mr Atis Slakteris has been appointed Minister of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, succeeding Mr Oskars Spurdziņš, and thus also becomes EIB Governor for the Republic of Latvia.
Born in 1956, Mr Slakteris graduated from the Latvia Academy of Agriculture and subsequently pursued post graduate studies at the University of Minnesota in the USA.
Until his appointment as Finance Minister, Mr Slakteris (a member of the People's Party) held the position of Minister of Defence. He previously occupied posts inter alia as Minister of Agriculture, Chairman of the Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee, Chairman of the People's Party and Minister of State for cooperation. His early career was devoted to agricultural management and engineering.