It is unlikely the Latvian Saeima is unlikely to elect a new minister of foreign affairs, said Prime Minister Evika Siliņa after a coalition meeting.
The PM previously told journalists that no potential candidate for the aforementioned post would not be found by Wednesday, the 10th of April, when Krišjānis Kariņš is set to leave his post.
Discussions still continue and Siliņa wants to be certain that the candidate New Unity’s politician will present to the coalition will have the ability to represent Latvia.
The document submitted by the Latvian PM to the Saeima mentions that on the 11th of April the PM will temporarily take on the duties of the minister of foreign affairs.
The post of Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs requires an active fighter, someone who is knowledgeable about politics, said Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa after a meeting of the government.
The PM stressed the government doesn’t need a peacetime candidate, “because the time when the minister of foreign affairs could work in peaceful, more diplomatic conditions is over”.
Siliņa will continue discussions with potential candidates. She said she cannot mention any names at the moment.
As previously reported, last week, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs and ex-Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš decided to step down amid the scandal regarding private flights. He will officially leave his post on the 10th of April.
Among the potential candidates mentioned behind the scenes are people like the former parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Saeima deputy Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador for Special Assignments Baiba Braže and others.
There are also rumours of a possible rotation of ministers. For example, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds may be rotated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere could be rotated to the vacant ministry. She could be replaced as Minister of Justice by parliamentary secretary Lauma Paegļkalne or Saeima Legal Affairs Committee’s chairman Andrejs Judins.
Also read: President: a new minister of foreign affairs needs to be approved as quickly as possible
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