Three of the ministers recently removed from their posts have already turned to the Saeima in order to restore their seats in the parliament. Until new candidates have been selected, acting ministers will will be taking charge over affected ministries, as reported by lsm.lv.
Following the announcement from the Latvian Prime Minister last Friday on the dismissal of the ministers of transport, welfare and education, there is no clarity as to who will take over their duties.
Lsm.lv reminds that New Unity has named Mayor of Cēsis Jānis Rozenbergs as the replacement for the now former Minister of Education and Science Andas Čakša. Rozenbergs plans to meet with Saeima factions on Wednesday. The Union of Greens and Farmers and Progressives faction, meanwhile, want more detailed information as to the future plans for the government after the “restart” and whether there is a budget to afford them. The dismissed ministers will remain in their posts until the 26th of February.
From the 27th of February and until new ministers are approved, Arvils Ašeradens from New Unity, Viktors Valainis from the Union of Greens and Farmers, and Agnese Lāce form Progressives will be serving as acting ministers of education, welfare and transport.
Former ministers Anda Čakša, Uldis Augulis (ZZS) and Kaspars Briškens, meanwhile, have turned to the Saeima to restore their seats in the parliament, the public media reports.
Lsm.lv writes that Čakša’s return to the Saeima means Jānis Reirs, who was previously put in the parliament to replace her, will lose his seat. Čakša told LTV that she wants to take over the Saeima Budget and Finance Committee from Reirs and continue working on the education policy’s reform.
There is no clarity as to any future changes to the Saeima, because the Union of Greens and Farmers still hasn’t named the next candidate for the post of the Minister of Welfare. Harijs Rokpelnis is mentioned among the possible candidates from the party.
If the Union of Greens and Farmers select a candidate from outside the Saeima, Ģirts Štekerhofs will lose his seat in the Saeima, notes lsm.lv.
If Progressives select a minister from outside of the Saeima’s ranks, Ervins Labanovskis will lose his seat.