Ingmārs Līdaka (born 13 August 1966, Vecumnieki) is a Latvian zoologist and politician who has represented the Union of Greens and Farmers in the Saeima, the Latvian national parliament.

Ingmārs Līdaka
former Deputy of the Saeima
Personal details
Born (1966-08-13) 13 August 1966 (age 57)
Vecumnieki, Latvian SSR
Political partyUnion of Greens and Farmers
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Latvia
ProfessionZoologist

Prior to entering politics, Līdaka worked at Riga Zoo as a public relations specialist.[1] He entered politics in 1995 when he was elected to Riga City Council and was later elected to the Saeima.[1] He became better known following a parliamentary debate on when to fly the Latvian national flag in 2009 when, after his speech was interrupted by members of other parties, he shouted "Aizver muti!" (shut your mouth!)[1][2] This became a popular phrase in Latvia, with the YouTube video of the incident receiving over 85,000 views[2] and numerous T-shirts bearing the phrase being sold.[2] Līdaka also authored a book Zoodārzs manā pagalmā (The zoo in my backyard.)[3]

In March 2018, he resigned from the Saeima to become head of Riga Zoo, before later being re-elected to 14th Saeima.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Ingmārs Līdaka". Delfi (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 2014-12-09. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Alberte, Ieva (21 October 2009). "Līdaka: frāzi "Aizver muti" nevajag pārspīlēt". Diena (in Latvian). Latvia. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  3. ^ Zālīte, Žanna (11 October 2014). "Vecumniekos tiekas Sarkanās skolas vēstures aizbildņi". Diena (in Latvian). Latvia. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  4. ^ "The zoo needs me more than the parliament, says Līdaka". lsm.lv. Latvia. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2020.