The life of Latvia’s first female president - (Long Version Master)

Published: July 10, 2017, 2:04 p.m.

In the early years of her life, Latvia’s former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga spent time as a refugee living in Nazi Germany, having fled Latvia when the Soviet army invaded. Her family eventually emigrated to Canada where she spent much of her working life before returning to Latvia after the break-up of the Soviet Union. This piece charts the life of the former president as she shares her views on the current security climate facing the Baltic States amid tensions with Russia. NATO is deploying four multinational battlegroups to the Baltics and Poland. The group to be based in Latvia will be led by the Canadians. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga welcomes the news. Footage includes soundbites from the former president and archive showing Nazi and Soviet rule, generic World War Two shots, footage from Ukraine and still photographs of the former president’s early life.