Decision-making within the four-party coalition led by newly appointed Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) will not be easy during the pre-election period, President Edgars Rinkēvičs said in an interview with LTV’s morning programme Rīta panorāma on Friday.
The president did not rule out the possibility that the government’s work would involve many discussions and disputes.
Explaining his choice of prime minister, Rinkēvičs said he considered it important to entrust responsibility for forming the government to a party that had been in opposition at the time. He sees energy and a strong work ethic in Kulbergs.
Rinkēvičs declined to comment on the fact that the Green and Farmers Union (ZZS) would remain in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture, despite the timber industry scandal having emerged during the party’s leadership of the ministry. In the president’s view, political responsibility in the case will ultimately be assessed by voters, while legal responsibility will be determined by investigators.
He stressed that the president must remain neutral and avoid becoming involved in disputes between political parties.
The president noted that the new government faces a significant workload in the field of security, although he does not expect solutions to be achieved quickly.
Rinkēvičs emphasised that Latvia must continue to be prepared for provocations, threats, and acts of sabotage from Russia.
“Unfortunately, this situation will not improve in the near future,” the president said, while adding that there are currently no indications that Russia is preparing a full-scale invasion of another country.
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