Romualds Ražuks

Romualds Razuks in 2011

Romualds Razuks (Lithuanian: Romualdas Ražukas; Latvian: Romualds Ražuks; born 19 November 1955) is a Lithuania-born Latvian doctor and politician. He was the second chairman of the Popular Front of Latvia, thereafter a member of parliament of the Saeima of the republic of Latvia and major of Jurmala. As of fall of 2014, he is a member of parliament of the 12th Saiema of the republic of Latvia, representing the political party Unity.

Early life

Razuks was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. He studied at the Medical Faculty of the University of Vilnius. In 1985 he defended his PhD thesis in medicine in Moscow. In 1986 he moved to Latvia, where he began working at the Riga Medical Institute. In 1987 he participated in the establishment of the Lithuanian Culture Society in Latvia, and became involved with the Popular Front of Latvia (PFL) a year thereafter.

Political career

In October 1989, Razuks was elected into the council of the PFL, which later elected him into its board. At the PFL third congress, Romualds Razuks was elected PFL chairperson, replacing Dainis Ivans in 1990. He retained this position until 1993, when he became vice chairman of the PFL.

In 1995, Razuks was awarded Latvian citizenship for special merit by decision of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia (parliament)

In 1997, Razuks joined the Latvian Way, and on 3 March 1997 was elected into the City Council of Riga, where he became the faction leader and worked for a year and a half. In 1998, he was elected in the parliament (7th Saeima) from the same party. In 2001 he was elected vice chairman of Saeima, replacing Gundars Bojars. After completing his term in Saeima, Razuks worked in the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and as a NATO representative in the Southern Caucasus region. He ran for the 8th Saeima in 2002, unsuccessfully, and for the European Parliament in 2004.

In April 2008, Razuks participated in the founding congress of the Civic Union.[1] In the 2009 municipal elections, he was elected into the Jurmala city council from this same party, initially being part of the opposition.[2] On 20 May 2010, Razuks was elected chairman of the city council, replacing Raimonds Munkevics.[3] However, already on 9 September 2010, he was replaced by Gatis Truksnis.[4] In July 2011, he announced his exit from the Civic Union and his intention to join the Reform Party.[5]. Razuks was elected from its list to the 11th Saeima during an extraordinary election. In May 2014, Razuks became a member of Unity,[6] and was elected into the 12th Saeima that same year.

Razuks is a recipient of the Order of the Three Stars, fourth class, and a 1991 barricade participant memorial sign, as well as the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, fifth class.

References

  1. ↑ "Par Pilsoniskas Savienibas Priekssedetaju Ievel Kalnieti".
  2. ↑ "2009 Municipal Election Results".
  3. ↑ "Razuks Elected New Mayor of Jurmala".
  4. ↑ "Razuks Loses Position as Mayor".
  5. ↑ "Razuks has decided to leave Civil Union and Join Zatler's Party".
  6. ↑ "Unity accepts eight Reform Party poiliticians, including Kozlovskis".
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