Ulmanis, Gauntis (1939– )

Latvian politician, president 1993–99. He worked principally as an economist and as a municipal employee of Riga 1963–92 and became a member of the Board of the General Bank of Latvia in 1992. He served as a deputy to the parliament from June 1993 and became president in July 1993.

Born in Riga, Ulmanis was exiled to Russia as a child with his family, returning in 1946. He was educated at the University of Riga and joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1965; he remained a member until 1989.