Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima

Bio: Dr. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica is a Latvian politician and since November 1, 2022 serves as a Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Parliament of the Republic of Latvia. Dr. Kalnina-Lukasevica represents political party “New Unity”, member of the EPP group. Deputy Speaker is an active member of the Committee of the Foreign Affairs and the Committee of European Affairs, and holds the position of Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Dr. Kalniņa-Lukasevica served as a Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia from 2014 – 2022. Her responsibilities included representing the government at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings on Development Cooperation and International Trade, as well as she often participated at the EU General Affairs Council meetings.

Her duties included ensuring successful communication of the ministry with the Saeima and the European Parliament. Between 2017 and 2022, Dr. Kalnina-Lukasevica chaired the Consultative Board for Development Cooperation Policy of Latvia. In 2011, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica was elected to the Parliament of Latvia and served as the Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee (2011-2014). It should be noted that Dr. Kalnina-Lukasevica also played an active part in the accession process to the OECD, and therefore in 2016 received an award from the Cabinet of Ministers.

Between 2008 – 2011, Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica served as a Deputy Chairperson of the Strategic Analysis Commission of the President of Latvia and as an Adviser on Strategic Planning and Analysis to the President of Latvia. Between 2006 and 2008, she held a position of a Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development and Municipal Affairs, and between 2003 and 2006 a position of Deputy Director and a Senior Consultant, a position of the Municipal Development and Reform Department. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica holds a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Management Science with a focus on public administration from the University of Latvia (2013). Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica holds master’s degree in Management Sciences from the University of Latvia, and a degree in social work, from the Latvian Christian Academy.

Additionally, aside from her political duties, she engages in active civic duties, such as, being a member of the board of a non-profit organization ‘’European Movement – Latvia’’, and a member of the board of trustees of the Brussels based think tank ‘’Friends of Europe’’. Dr. Kalnina-Lukasevica is a member of the European council of Foreign Relations (ECFR). Furthermore, she is a lecturer at the University of Latvia and teaches a course on Foreign Affairs of the European Union. Dr. Kalnina-Lukasevica is born in 1978. She obtains language skills in Latvian (native), English, German and Russian languages.