The post of Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs requires an active fighter, someone who is knowledgeable about politics, said Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa after a meeting of the government. No candidate was named.
The PM stressed the government doesn’t need a peacetime candidate, “because the time when the minister of foreign affairs could work in peaceful, more diplomatic conditions is over”.
Siliņa will continue discussions with potential candidates. She has no names to announce at the moment, however.
Intensive consultations continue. The PM said that once a candidate has been selected he or she will be presented to her party and coalition parties. The opposition is also interested in the new minister, she added.
The politician did not mention any time-frame within which the new minister could be found.
As previously reported, last week, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs and ex-Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš decided to step down amid the scandal regarding private flights. He will officially leave his post on the 10th of April.
Previously it was assumed the Saeima may decide on the new minister of foreign affairs on the 11th of April. However, because the search for candidates still continues, it is possible the vote could be pushed back to a later date.
Among the potential candidates mentioned behind the scenes are people like the former parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Saeima deputy Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador for Special Assignments Baiba Braže and others.
There are also rumours of a possible rotation of ministers. For example, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds may be rotated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere could be rotated to the vacant ministry. She could be replaced as Minister of Justice by parliamentary secretary Lauma Paegļkalne or Saeima Legal Affairs Committee’s chairman Andrejs Judins.
Also read: President: a new minister of foreign affairs needs to be approved as quickly as possible
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