Uldis Augulis
Uldis Augulis (born 16 March 1972, in Dobele, Latvian SSR) is a Latvian politician and a member of the Union of Greens and Farmers. He holds a bachelor's degree in financial management from the University of Latvia. He was the former Welfare Minister from 2009 to 2010 and again between 2014 and 2016, and also again since 2023. He was also the former Minister of Transport from 2010 to 2011 and again between 2016 and 2019. He was also the acting Minister of Justice from March to April 2010. Augulis was elected to the Saeima on October 2, 2011. Controversy
Augulis caused controversy with his prioritisation of road and rail links between Riga and Moscow while delaying regional EU projects such as Rail Baltica citing a lack of funds. Latvia has already lost EUR 12.2 million (LVL 8.54 million) of EU funds due to hesitation over the Rail Baltica project, and the EU Transport Commissioner has stated there is no chance that the EU will contribute funds to the proposed Moscow link despite Augulis' assertion that the EU could contribute up to 85%. The high-speed railroad project between Riga and Moscow is economically justified due to increasing passenger and cargo turnover, and it is not political, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said after a meeting with Augulis. References

1972 births
Living people
People from Dobele
Latvian Farmers' Union politicians
Ministers of Welfare of Latvia
Transport ministers of Latvia
Deputies of the 9th Saeima
Deputies of the 10th Saeima
Deputies of the 11th Saeima
Deputies of the 12th Saeima
Deputies of the 13th Saeima
Deputies of the 14th Saeima
University of Latvia alumni