Tavars: AS Has Made No Decisions on Ministerial Posts in New Government
AS representative Tavars says the party has made no decisions on ministerial posts, as talks with potential coalition partners have only just begun. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is continuing government-formation talks with several parties.
AS representative Tavars has said the party has so far made no decisions on who will hold ministerial posts in Latvia's new government. According to him, negotiations with potential coalition partners on forming Andris Kulbergs's Cabinet of Ministers have only just started, so it is too early to discuss specific posts. The makeup of the government will determine how the priorities set after the parliamentary election are carried out.
Speculation about candidates
Several names have circulated behind the scenes. Juris Lazdiņš (AS), elected to the 15th Saeima and head of the farmers' umbrella group "Zemnieku saeima", has been mentioned for agriculture minister, but he told the news agency LETA he has not been approached about the job. For health minister, the names mentioned are cardiologist and professor Andris Skride (AS) or Līga Meņgelsone (AS), who has held the post before. For finance minister, the name floated is Kārlis Purgailis, an adviser to Kulbergs and chief economist for Latvia at the bank "Citadele". AS leaders have not publicly confirmed any of the names.
Partners' positions
The party "Jaunā vienotība" (JV) has said publicly that it would like Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (JV) and Defence Minister Raivis Melnis to stay on. JV nominated Melnis in the past, though he has not joined the party. Jānis Dombrava, the National Alliance's interior minister, said in an LTV interview that the election results show voters valued the party's work at the Interior Ministry, so continuing it would be logical. Asked whether the party would join the government without that post, he replied: "At the moment we are not considering such an option."
Course of the talks
In the first round with JV and the National Alliance, Kulbergs reached agreement on making public administration more efficient, reviewing ministries' functions and putting state finances in order. He proposed a working model with a government change plan, a Saeima change plan and ministers' mission letters. Kulbergs acknowledged that difficult decisions lie ahead, including unpopular measures. Talks with "Progresīvie" are set for 30 October, with the party "Latvija pirmajā vietā" early next week, and the next round after 4 November.
