Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender visited the Republic of Latvia on 15 and 16 February.

In Riga they were welcomed by President Egils Levits and his wife Andra Levite. In the afternoon of 15 February, the two Presidents held political talks followed by a joint press conference.

On 16 February, the Federal President was invited by President Levits to give a speech entitled For democracy and freedom in Europe – Lessons from our shared constitutional tradition at the international conference 100 Years of Satversme. The conference was held to mark the centenary of the Latvian constitution, one of the oldest constitutions in Europe still in force.

Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender also visited the Richard Wagner House and the Žanis Lipke Memorial in Riga on that day. The memorial is dedicated to the Latvian Žanis Lipke and his wife, who managed to rescue many Jews from the Riga Ghetto during the National Socialist period.

Overview of the programme:

Tuesday, 15 February

• Arrival in Riga
• Official residence of the President of the Republic of Latvia
  Welcome by Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia, and Andra Levite
• Talks with the President of the Republic of Latvia
• Joint press conference
• Residence of the President of the Republic of Latvia
  Dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of Latvia and Andra Levite

Wednesday, 16 February

• Žanis Lipke Memorial
  Tour of the museum
• Official residence of the President of the Republic of Latvia
  Address at the international conference 100 Years of Satversme (Latvia’s constitution)
• Richard Wagner House
  Tour of the building
• Riga Central Station
  Talks with representatives from the Rail Baltica joint venture and Deutsche Bahn
• Luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic of Latvia
• Flight to Berlin