Dainis Īvāns

Who is Dainis Īvāns?

Dainis Īvāns is a Latvian journalist and politician.

He has worked as a journalist since 1979 and gained the public attention in 1986, by opposing construction of another hydro-electric dam on Daugava river, near the city of Daugavpils. Īvāns pointed out the loss of landscapes and the need for relocation of numerous villages and cities, in the case if the dam is constructed. As a result of media campaign led by Īvāns, the construction of the dam was cancelled. He was awarded the title of the Most Popular Journalist of 1986.

In 1988, he became one of founders of the Popular Front of Latvia and its leader. After the win of Popular Front in the 1990 election, he became the deputy speaker of the Supreme Soviet, the transitional parliament of Latvia. He resigned from this position in 1992.

He returned to politics in 1998, by joining Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party and was elected to Riga City Council from the Social Democrats' list in 2001. He was the leader of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party from 2002 to 2005.