New Unity (JV) reports having reached an agreement with the two other potential coalition partners – Combined List (AS) and National Alliance (NA) – on the creation of a Ministry of Energy and Climate, as journalists were told by JV leader Krišjānis Kariņš after a meeting with representatives of parties on Wednesday, 2 November.
The name of the ministry is still on the table. The same applies to its functions and responsibilities.
AS representative Uldis Pīlēns mentioned disagreements over the need for a new ministry remained until the last moment. He said AS trusts JV and will help expand the section of the memorandum about the ministry, its goals and functions. He said it will happen in a way that will not increase bureaucratic costs for the country, as that would cause confusion among residents.
Parties are united in the belief that climate and energy issues have to be resolved in a joint manner, through a rational approach to accomplish goals, said the politician.
Politician from NA Jānis Dombrava stressed that creation of the ministry would not help resolve the energy and climate problems. The ministry should have a duty to serve as a coordinating institutions to help other ministries active in the energy sector to coordinate efforts. «Only then will this ministry will have a point,» said the Saeima deputy.
Politicians also agreed the national problems related to children will be delegated to the Ministry of Welfare and the employment policy – to the Ministry of Economics.
Saeima deputies also agreed that the government should especially focus on the topic of digitisation, because Latvia is far behind its neighbouring countries.
However, the issue remains how best to support this sector. It is planned to be listed in the government declaration, said the PM.
Kariņš allowed for entrusting digitisation to the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development. It is likely, however, that the ministry’s name may change. Ministry of Transport is another potential candidate to be entrusted with this field.
Also read: Coalition in Latvia to sign cooperation memorandum soon; next step – distributing ministries