Dana Reizniece-Ozola (born November 6, 1981) is a Latvian politician and chess player. She has been managing director of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) since 2021.[1] She also served as minister of Economics (2014–2016) and minister of Finance (2016–2019) of the Republic of Latvia.[2] Reizniece-Ozola was elected as a member of the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th[3] Saeima of the Republic of Latvia and worked as the chairperson of the Commission on Education, Culture and Science, Member of the Legal Affairs Commission and Member of the European Affairs Commission. In chess, Reizniece-Ozola was awarded the title of Woman Grandmaster by FIDE in 2001. She is presently vice-president of the European Chess Union.[4]

Dana Reizniece-Ozola
Minister of Finance
In office
11 February 2016 – 23 January 2019
Prime MinisterMāris Kučinskis
Preceded byJānis Reirs
Succeeded byJānis Reirs
Minister of Economics
In office
5 November 2014 – 11 February 2016
Prime MinisterLaimdota Straujuma
Preceded byVjačeslavs Dombrovskis
Succeeded byArvils Ašeradens
Personal details
Born (1981-11-06) 6 November 1981 (age 42)
Kuldiga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union (Now Latvia)
Political partyFor Latvia and Ventspils, Latvian Farmers' Union
Other political
affiliations
Union of Greens and Farmers
SpouseAndris Ozols
Alma materVentspils University College
Riga Graduate School of Law
International Space University
TitleWoman Grandmaster (2001)
Peak rating2346 (March 2010)

Biography edit

From 2006 to 2014, Reizniece-Ozola was Advisor to the Board, Board Member and Head of Ventspils High Technology Park. Before that, she was the Board Member of a research centre and industrial investment company. She has also worked at Ventspils City Council as the Head of the Investment Division.

Dana Reizniece-Ozola has studied International Business at Häme Polytechnic University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland; law at the College of Law and linguistics at Ventspils University College in Latvia. She obtained a Professional master's degree in Translation and Terminology from Ventspils University College in Latvia and an Executive master's degree of Business Administration from the International Space University in France.

She has managed several projects related to satellite and space technologies, with the development the first Latvian satellite "Venta-1" at Ventspils High Technology Park being one of them.

Chess career edit

Reizniece-Ozola won the Latvian Chess Championship for women in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. In 1998 and 1999, she won the Girls Under 18 section of the European Youth Championships.[5][6] In 2000, Reizniece-Ozola competed in the Women's World Chess Championship, held in New Delhi, India; she was eliminated in the first round after losing to Nataša Bojković.[7]

In the 4th round of the 42nd Chess Olympiad in 2016, Reizniece-Ozola defeated Women's World Chess Champion Hou Yifan.[8]

Reizniece-Ozola played for Latvia in the Women's Chess Olympiad:[9]

Dana Reizniece-Ozola played for Latvia in the Women's European Team Chess Championship:[11]

  • In 1999, at first board in 3rd Women's European Team Chess Championship in Batumi (+5 −4 =0);
  • In 2001, at first board in 4th Women's European Team Chess Championship in León (+1 −4 =2);
  • In 2011, at first board in 18th Women's European Team Chess Championship in Porto Carras (+4 −3 =2);[12]
  • In 2015, at first board in 20th Women's European Team Chess Championship in Reykjavik (+2 −3 =4),
  • In 2019, at first board in the 22nd Women's European Team Chess Championship in Batumi (+3, =2, -4).[13]

Political career edit

Dana Reizniece-Ozola served as Minister of Finance from 2016 until 2019.[2][14] She was a member of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and a deputy of the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th[15] Saeima (Latvian Parliament) and has worked as the Chairperson of the Commission on Education, Culture and Science, as a Member of the Legal Affairs Commission and as a Member of the European Affairs Commission.[2] Within the ZZS alliance she was a member of the Latvian Farmers' Union (before 2018[16]For Latvia and Ventspils). She left 13th Saeima in 2021 to join FIDE in the role of managing director,[17] since May 2022 she is not a member of any political party.[18]

In November 2017, Reizniece-Ozola submitted her formal application for succeeding Jeroen Dijsselbloem as the next chairman of the Eurogroup.[19] At the vote on December 4, she withdrew after the first round and Mário Centeno was eventually elected to the post.[20][21]

Other activities edit

European Union organizations edit

International organizations edit

Personal life edit

Reizniece-Ozola is married to Andris Ozols, former director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.

References edit

  1. ^ "FIDE appoints Dana Reizniece-Ozola as Managing Director". www.fide.com. 2021-01-04. Archived from the original on 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  2. ^ a b c "Minister". Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Record number of women elected in 13th Saeima". Baltic News Network. LETA. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. ^ "European Chess Union". European Chess Union. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  5. ^ Crowther, Mark (1998-07-20). "TWIC 193: European Youth Chess Championship 1998". The Week in Chess. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  6. ^ Crowther, Mark (1999-09-13). "TWIC 253: European Youth Championships". The Week in Chess. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  7. ^ Crowther, Mark (2000-12-04). "TWIC 317: FIDE World Chess Championships". The Week in Chess. Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  8. ^ "Latvian Finance Minister topples world chess number one". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  9. ^ Wojciech Bartelski. "Women's Chess Olympiads: Dana Reizniece". OlimpBase. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  10. ^ "Istanbul 2012 World Chess Olympiad - Results Page". Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  11. ^ Wojciech Bartelski. "European Women's Team Chess Championship: Dana Reizniece". OlimpBase. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  12. ^ "18th European Women's Team Chess Championship 2011". Chess-Results Server. 2011-12-19. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  13. ^ "22nd European Team Chess Championship 2019 Women Section". chess-results.com.
  14. ^ "13th Saeima elections: The parties (Part 4)". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Centrālā vēlēšanu komisija. 13.Saeimas vēlēšanas. Ievēlēto deputātu alfabētiskais saraksts". sv2018.cvk.lv. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  16. ^ "Reizniece-Ozola pamet Lemberga vadīto partiju «Latvijai un Ventspilij»". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  17. ^ "Former Finance Minister Reizniece-Ozola to swap Saeima for international chess role". eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  18. ^ "Latvijas Zemnieku savienību pametusi bijusī finanšu ministre Reizniece-Ozola". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  19. ^ Jan Strupczewski (November 30, 2017), Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia bid for Eurogroup chair Reuters.
  20. ^ Viktoria Dendrinou, Stephanie Bodoni and Radoslav Tomek (December 4, 2017), Portugal's Centeno Gets Top Economic Job in New Euro Chapter Bloomberg News.
  21. ^ Mehreen Khan and Jim Brunsden (December 4, 2017), Portugal’s Centeno wins race to become eurogroup president Financial Times.
  22. ^ Board of Governors European Investment Bank (EIB).
  23. ^ Board of Governors: Dana Reizniece-Ozola European Stability Mechanism.
  24. ^ Board of Governors European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
  25. ^ Board of Governors Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group.
  26. ^ Board of Governors Nordic Investment Bank (NIB).
  27. ^ Board of Governors World Bank.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2016–2019
Succeeded by