Valdis Birkavs has been a Club de Madrid Member since 2005.
Birkavs has dedicated his career to advancing democratic principles and legal reforms in Latvia and the Baltic region. He studied law, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and mathematical logic at the University of Latvia, later earning a PhD in criminology from Moscow’s Institute of Criminology in 1978.
Birkavs played a pivotal role in Latvia’s National Awakening Movement, famously known as “The Singing Revolution,” advocating for democratic reforms during the country’s transition to independence. As a Founding Member and President of the Latvian Bar Association from 1988 to 1995, he laid the groundwork for Latvia’s legal independence and co-authored the May 4, 1990 Declaration of Independence.
His political career began in 1990 as a Deputy in the Latvian Parliament, where he has since held influential positions including Deputy Chairman of the Judicial Committee and Chairman of the Parliament. Birkavs co-founded and chaired the liberal-conservative political party Latvijas ceļš (Latvian Way), and served as Latvia’s first Prime Minister under the renewed constitution in 1993. During his tenure, he successfully negotiated the withdrawal of Russian troops from Latvia and held key ministerial roles including Foreign Minister and Minister of Justice across multiple administrations.
Internationally, Birkavs chaired the Baltic States’ Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly’s Judicial Committee, fostering regional cooperation through agreements like the Baltic States’ Free Trade Agreement and the establishment of the Baltic Council of Ministers’ Secretariat. He has been actively involved in the Liberal International since 1997, contributing over 150 academic papers and articles on crime prevention, democracy, human rights, and international politics. He is also a Board Member of School for International Civic Education.
Valdis Birkavs continues to influence legal and political discourse, promoting the rule of law and democratic values in Latvia and beyond.
