Education
University of Latvia.
University of Latvia.
He holds a bachelor"s degree in Financial management from the University of Latvia and is the Latvian Minister of Welfare. He was previously the Welfare Minister from 12 March 2009 to 3 November 2010, the Minister of Transport from 3 November 2010 to 25 October 2011 and the acting Minister of Justice from March to April 2010. Augulis was elected to the Saeima on October 2, 2011.
Augulis caused controversy with his prioritisation of road and rail links between Riga and Moscow while delaying regional European Union projects such as Rail Baltica citing a lack of funds.
Latvia has already lost EUR 12.2 million (LVL 854 million) of European Union funds due to hesitation over the Rail Baltica project, and the European Union Transport Commissioner has stated there is no chance that the European Union will contribute funds to the proposed Moscow link despite Augulis" assertion that the European Union 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.
2008 – 2009 Parliamentary Secretary of Ministry of Welfare, 2007 – 2008 Parliamentary Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture 2006 – 2008 Member of Parliament (Saeima), 2000 – 2006 Chairman of Berze Rural Municipality Since 1996 Owner of the Farm “Auguļi”, 1990 – 1996 Company-owner of the Farm “Īves” Other positions held: 2003 – 2006 Chairman of the Council, Dobele City Business Fleet, Limited. 2000 – 2006 Chairman of the Board, Dobele Department of Political Party Latvian Farmer’s Union 2001 – 2006 Member of the Council, Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments 2003 – 2006 Member of the European Union Committee of the Regions 2005 – 2006 Chairman of the Advisory Council, State Agency K.Ulmanis Memorial Museum Pikšas.