On Thursday, the 11th of May, Latvian Progressive Party named its presidential candidate – “an international organisations and management professional and activist of civil and Latvian diaspora activist” Elīna Pinto.
In 2023 she started working in an EU civil service – as head of communications and partnership of European Commission’s Representation in Luxembourg. Previously Pinto held various posts in different international structures – Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as an expert-consultant on public governance issues, “with a particular focus on managing green transformation and on strategic planning and cross-sectoral coordination of government centres”; the European Commission as a translator; European External Action Service (as advisor to director general on topics of international crises, NATO and security-related policy); the Council of Europe (as consultant to the Director-General for Foreign and Security Policy).
In Latvia she has worked as department director in the Ombudsman’s Bureau (2007-2008).
She was also an advisor to Latvia’s current President Egils Levits for topics on modern country and sustainability (2019-2020).
Graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia in Riga, as well as from the European Inter-University Centre – European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (Venice, Italy and Strasbourg, France) – with a Master’s degree.
She is married to Portuguese-born citizen of Luxembourg, diplomat Orlando Pinto. They have three children.
Although it is claimed that she is not a member of any political party or religious organisation, she does have ties to the origins of the Progressive Party. She also donated EUR 750 to them in 2017.
Progressive Party’s co-chairpeson Justīne Panteļējeva and Saeima faction leader Kaspars Briškens presented her to the media as “the ideal president”.
The management of the Progressive Party reminds that it had previously outlined five criteria for presidential candidates: spotless reputation, deep understanding of rule of law, leadership in sustainable development, support for reduction of social inequality and western-focused values.
When asked if Pinto could receive more than the ten votes from the Progressive Party’s members in elections, Briškens only said there is no room for any political considerations with a candidate like her.
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