Considering the political situation, the decision by Krišjānis Kariņš to step down as Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs is understandable, said Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs after his meeting with Saeima speaker Daiga Mieriņa.
He said that minister candidates are traditionally discussed by the prime minister and president. According to Rinkēvičs, this is the correct practice because the president has many responsibilities both when it comes to foreign policy and defence policy. The president also said that the situation will be discussed with PM Evika Siliņa on Wednesday, the 3rd of April.
As for criteria for the future minister of foreign affairs, Rinkēvičs said the candidate’s confidence about European values, geopolitical affairs and security policy has always been the most important factor.
“Considering the situation in the world and the region, it is important for the candidate to be able to start working without any “long warm-ups” immediately. Just don’t ask me what I mean by long warm-up. A person, when taking office, needs a couple of weeks, not months, to understand the priorities and tasks ahead,” said the president.
According to him, it needs to be a person with an understanding of foreign policy and political processes.
Rinkēvičs stressed that he has yet to discuss with the PM how the process will be organised. Nevertheless, he said the priority is not to delay with the approval of a new minister candidate in the Saeima.
When asked if coalition partners have any candidates prepared for the post of Latvian minister of foreign affairs, the Saeima speaker said no, because it was just Easter this weekend. Mieriņa allowed that once the Saeima reconvenes after the holiday, this topic will be discussed on the 8th of April.
“It’s important New Unity proposes the candidate from its ranks, so that the Saeima can approve the candidate at the nearest meeting,” said Mieriņa.
On the 28th of March, Kariņš announced his decision to step down as Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs. He will leave his post on the 10th of April. He explained this date was picked because the Saeima will meet on the 11th of April, which is when Saeima deputies may elect a new minister.
For months the scandal with the private flights used by Kariņš and delegations that accompanied him on various foreign missions during his term as Latvian PM has been an especially hot topic among residents.
Also read: BNN IN FOCUS | Politologist: ex-PM Kariņš is New Unity’s biggest problem
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