Biography

Image via The Wall Street Journal

On January 22, 2014, Laimdota Straujuma became the first woman to serve as the head of government in Latvian history, staying in the position until February 11, 2016.

Laimdota Straujuma was born in 1951. She later graduated from the University of Latvia.  

Prior to her ascension to Prime Minister, Straujuma spent much of her career with the ministry of Agriculture, serving as the Secretary of State of the Minister of Agriculture (2000-2006), Secretary of State of the Ministry for Regional Development and Local Government (2007-2010) and the Minister of Agriculture (2011-2014).