Andris Berzins elected new president of Latvia
02.06.2011, 17:44Andris Berzins, representative of Union of Greens and Farmers, has been elected the new president of Latvia.
53 Saeima deputies voted for Berzins during the second vote of the presidential election today while 44 voted against.
Current President Valdis Zatlers was supported by 41 deputies, while 56 opposed.
Three deputies voted against both candidates.
99 Saeima members participated in the vote, submitting 97 valid ballots.
Berzins is a wealthy man, the value of his properties and assets makes him a millionaire. According to his declaration of income in the State Revenue Service's public database, in 2006 Berzins owned 30 land plots in various counties of Latvia. In 2007, Berzins sold his shares in the company Lode for LVL 4,535,635. Taking office as a Saeima member in 2010, Berzins declared to have issued loans worth more than LVL 1,000,000, and to own more than 30 properties in various regions of Latvia.