On Wednesday, the 26th of February, the Union of Greens and Farmers announced plans to propose parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Welfare Reinis Uzulnieks for the minister’s post.
As the Chairman of the Board of the Union of Greens and Farmers Armands Krauze told journalists after the meeting with the party’s board and faction, Uzulnieks has more than ten years of experience in the field of welfare.
Krauze said he has experience to continue tasks that were commenced during the term of previous Minister of Welfare Uldis Augulis.
“I would like to stress again – Uldis Augulis was a fine minister,” said Krauze, adding that this replacement of ministers initiated by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa is not a good thing. Nevertheless, the party has made its decision.
Uzulnieks told journalists that Augulis received a great deal of support from his sector. This is why he will continue his predecessor’s work.
“These tasks, which were related to demographics and pensions, will be continued,” said Uzulnieks, allowing for slight changes to the list of tasks.
The leader of the Saeima faction of the Union of Greens and Farmers Harijs Rokpelnis mentioned prior to the meeting that the political party has several candidates to choose from. Rokpelnis is one of those candidates. Jurģis Miezainis was mentioned as a potential candidate to lead the Ministry of Economics.
Rokpelnis said that the party will wait for a meeting with the Prime Minister in order to discuss her suggested “breakthrough plan”.
Announcing her “restart”, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa requested Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens, Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša and Minister of Welfare Uldis Augulis to step down from their respective posts.