Juris Dalbins
LatviaA Latvian Politician and Statesman
Early Life and CareerRaimonds Bergmanis, a Latvian political and state official, began his career as a physical education teacher in the Soviet era. He later became a member of the 7th, 8th, and 9th Saeima (Latvian Parliament) as a member of the People's Party. During his time in the Saeima, Bergmanis served as Chairman of the Defense, Internal Affairs, and Corruption Prevention Commission, as well as a member of the Anti-Corruption Bureau Oversight Commission and the National Security Council.
Military Career
From October 25, 1994, to June 8, 1998, Bergmanis served as Commander of the National Armed Forces of Latvia. However, his participation in a march of Latvian legionnaires on March 16, 1998, drew criticism from Latvia's allies, and he was subsequently dismissed from his post by President Guntis Ulmanis under the pretext of poor health.
Controversies and Political Ambitions
Bergmanis attended the reburial ceremony of 10 Latvian SS legionnaires in 1998. He was later put forward by the People's Party as a candidate for Defense Minister and ran for the European Parliament, but was unsuccessful. In 2009, while serving as Chairman of the Saeima Commission on Defense and Internal Affairs, Bergmanis accidentally fired two shots during a shooting competition, injuring two individuals.
