Central bank governor joins the Legion

Take note – story published 9 years ago

Latvia's long-serving central bank governor, Ilmārs Rimšēvičs became a member of the famous French Légion d’Honneur on Monday, the French embassy in Riga reported.

"With this distinction, France acknowledges the actions of Mr. Rimšēvičs in anchoring Latvia within the heart of the EU, and since 1 January 2014 in the eurozone," a statement by the embassy said. 

"France was impressed by the personal contribution of Mr. Rimšēvičs to  the stabilization of Latvia during the economic and financial crisis," it added.

The Légion d’Honneur is the highest French honorary decoration. It was established May 19, 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to reward the most prominent military and civil merits, and has been awarded by many of the most brilliant thinkers, artists and statesmen of France and the world ever since.

It is divided into five different ranks or degrees, with Rimšēvičs holding the second-highest, that of Officier.

Rimšēvičs joins the likes of Martin Scorsese, Shimon Peres and Orson Welles as foreign recipients of the award.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves is a Chevalier of the Legion, as is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Being a member of the Légion d’Honneur is extremely prestigious - and should also ensure Rimšēvičs will never again have trouble securing a table in Paris' best restaurants.

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