Jānis Vagris

Jānis Vagris (born 17 October 1930) is a Latvian politician. He served as the sixth Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1985 to 1988, and as Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia from 1988 to 1990.

Early life

Vagris was born on 17 October 1930 in Naudītes Parish. He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics at the University of Latvia and the Higher Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1955.

Career

He then worked as an engineer at a factory in Jelgava. During this time Vagris also served as the deputy chairman of the executive committee of the city. Vagris joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1958. From 1966 to 1973, Vagris was the first and second secretary of the Liepājā city committee, after which he joined the Communist Party of Latvia.

In 1978 Vagris was appointed as the first secretary of the Riga city committee. On 20 August 1985 he became the sixth chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. On 4 October 1988 Vagris was promoted to the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia. He made a speech at the Mežaparks Great Bandstand, three days before the Popular Front of Latvia's first congress. 

In 1989 Vagris was elected to the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union. On 7 April 1990 Vagris was succeeded by Alfrēds Rubiks as secretary. In later evaluations, Vagris' role during the revival was revealed to be ambiguous.

Awards

• Order of the Three Stars and the role of Officer (2010)
• Orders of the October Revolution
• Red Banner of Labour.
• Meritorious Industrial Worker of the Latvian SSR.