On Tuesday, 29 November, the Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee once again rejected amendments to the Cabinet Structure Law, which are intended to allow the creation of a new ministry in Latvia – the Ministry of Climate and Energy – and amendments to the State Administration Structure Law, which are necessary in order to create vice-minister seats.
This committee had previously rejected these amendments during the first review.
During this week’s meeting of the committee not one of the proposals suggested by members of the opposition received support from the majority of members. For example, deputies rejected the proposal from the Progressive Party’s members on expanding the functions of the proposed minister of climate and energy to include responsibility for the environment.
Members of the committee also rejected the proposal from the Union of Greens and Farmers to create new minister posts or combine the responsibilities of the economy and transport minister or the responsibilities of ministers of climate, environment protection and energy. The party’s other proposal to combine the posts of interior affairs and justice minister was rejected as well.
The committee’s chairman Andrejs Judins agreed to send the minutes of the meeting to the Public Administration Committee, adding at the same time that minutes are publicly accessible.
Judins mentioned that it would be possible for proposals from the opposition to be reviewed if the Saeima, for example, dedicated two years to the improvement of relevant laws.
As it is known, members of the forming coalition in Latvia have agreed to create a new ministry – the Ministry of Climate and Energy.
According to members of New Unity, one of the most important tasks listed in the government declaration is securing Latvia’s energy independence. This is why there is a need for a new ministry.
«It is a simple topic as an idea – let’s not buy energy resources from Russia,» said New Unity leader Krišjānis Kariņš, explaining that the difficulty is with accomplishing this goal in a practical manner using a system that would help create competitive prices and allow Latvia to reach EU climate goals.
It is planned to combine existing departments from the Ministry of Economics and Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development in this new ministry. This means the only new costs for the state budget will come only from the wage amount paid to the new minister and a couple of managing officials in the new ministry.
According to unofficial information, one potential candidate for the post of Minister of Climate and Energy is New Unity member Raimonds Čudars.
Also read: National Alliance member says Saeima may approve Latvia’s new government in December