Gunārs Meierovics (12 May 1920 – 11 February 2007) was a Latvian politician and the youngest son of the second

Prime Minister of Latvia The prime minister of Latvia () is the most powerful member of the Government of Latvia, who presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers. The officeholder is nominated by the president of Latvia, but must be able to obtain the support of a p ...

Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics (, Durbe – 22 August 1925, near Tukums) was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Latvia from its independence until 1924 and again from December of the same year until his dea ...

. Meierovics was also a candidate for the 1993 Latvian presidential election.

Biography

Meierovics was born on 12 May 1920 in

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

to Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics and his wife Anna Meierovics. He studied economics and engineering at the

University of Latvia University of Latvia (, shortened ''LU'') is a public research university located in Riga, Latvia. The university was established in 1919. History The University of Latvia, initially named as the Higher School of Latvia () was founded on Se ...

and Baltic University after becoming a war refugee. He was drafted into the Latvian Legion in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

but emigrated to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

after fleeing to

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, where he worked at the

United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and superv ...

. He was active in the American Latvian Association. In 1961, he was one of the main activists in the establishment of the United Baltic Committee in the United States. Meierovics also led the World Association of Free Latvians. In 1993, he was elected to the fifth

Saeima The Saeima () is the parliament of the Latvia, Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the p ...

, and from the list of the political party

Latvian Way Latvian Way () was a Conservative liberalism, conservative-liberal List of political parties in Latvia, political party in Latvia. It merged with Latvia's First Party to form the Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way (LPP/LC) in 2007. It described it ...

, he was nominated as a candidate for president in the 1993 Latvian presidential election. Meirovics withdrew in support for the candidate

Guntis Ulmanis Guntis Ulmanis (born 13 September 1939) is a Latvian politician and the fifth President of Latvia from 1993 to 1999. Biography Early life Guntis Ulmanis was born in Riga on 13 September 1939. His great uncle Kārlis Ulmanis was one of the most ...

. In the government of

Valdis Birkavs Valdis Birkavs (born 28 July 1942) is a Latvian politician. He was born in Riga. Birkavs attended the University of Latvia, where he studied philosophy, sociology, law, psychology and mathematical logic. He was first elected to the Latvian parli ...

, Meierovics held the position of the Minister of State of the Baltic and Nordic States at the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

. In November 1995, Meierovics was awarded the Order of the Three Stars of the 3rd class. In 2001, Meierovics was awarded the PBLA Prize "for his extensive, long-lasting and successful work in strengthening the political position of the Baltics in the United States and Europe, in the struggle for the freedom of our nation and for the introduction of the new generation into Latvian central organizations." Meierovics died on 11 February 2007, after battling

Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

. Then-president

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (; born 1 December 1937) is a Latvian politician who served as the sixth president of Latvia from 1999 to 2007. She is the first and to date only woman to hold the post and the most recent to be re-elected for a second ter ...

and

Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...

Artis Pabriks expressed their condolences to his relatives.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meierovics, Gunars 1920 births 2007 deaths United States Department of Defense officials Deputies of the Saeima Latvian Way politicians Latvian Farmers' Union politicians Latvian people of Jewish descent