The co-chairman of Attīstībai/Par (AP) political parties union Daniels Pavļuts said he is not worried about the coalition supporting the candidate for the post of Minister of the Interior of Latvia Kristaps Eklons, who currently serves as deputy chief of the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD).
In his interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma, Pavļuts said that when looking fr a candidate for the vacant minister post, officials were looking for someone who is well-known and respected in the industry.
Pavļuts informed Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš of picking Eklons as the candidate for the aforementioned post last week. Coalition partners were informed about this candidate unofficially. Discussions about the candidate will likely take place today.
In his interview to TV3 programme 900 seconds, Pavļuts mentioned that the PM has yet to respond.
«I don’t expect any particular objections. Tomorrow the candidate may meet with representatives of factions. On Thursday, 26 May, the Saeima may hold a vote. We haven’t seen any indications that some partners may have objections so far,» he told LTV.
He also said that he believes AP will support National Alliance’s proposed candidate for the post of Minister of Economics – Ilze Indriksone.
When asked if AP gets the option to lead the Ministry of the Interior after 14th Saeima elections and Eklons is picked again, Pavļuts said he’d rather not run that far ahead, because it is first necessary to pass the vote in the Saeima. «Questions about what happens next will be resolved as they come in. If Eklons decides to stay in politics, we will gladly keep him, but this is too early to discuss,» said the minister.
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AP has decided to pick Eklons for the vacant minister’s post. VUGD general was picked for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is that he received good recommendations from the previous Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva. The party union and the candidate have similar views about priorities in the interior sector and state security.
Pavļuts previously said it was important to pick a candidate whose knowledge about topics related to interior affairs would be unquestionable from day one and whose personality and communication skills command respect.
According to AP communication manager Edgars Barbaks, Eklonsis currently in charge of operations office, technical office, procurement and provisions office – areas that are critical in the entire sector.
Last week, Latvia’s Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva decided to step down following the ultimatum set up by the National Alliance to the PM after what happened in Victory Park the week prior.
Golubeva said at a press-conference the other reason for her decision is that she cannot continue working without support from the PM.
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