The Latvian Saeima today approved the newly formed four-party Cabinet of Ministers led by Andris Kulbergs (United List). 66 deputies voted in favor of the new government, while 25 parliamentarians voted against, UNN reports with reference to LSM.
Details
The publication notes that four political forces are represented in the new government — the United List, the National Alliance, New Unity, and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS).
The Kulbergs government is the 23rd since the restoration of Latvia's independence.
Deputies from The Progressives and Latvia First, as well as several independent deputies, voted against.
The new government includes four ministers from the previous administration:
- Prime Minister — Andris Kulbergs (United List),
- Minister of Finance — Māris Kučinskis (United List),
- Minister of Justice — Edvards Smiltēns (United List),
- Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development — Edgars Tavars (United List),
- Minister of Foreign Affairs — Baiba Braže (New Unity) retains her post,
- Minister of Defense — Raivis Melnis (nominated by New Unity),
- Minister of Transport — Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity),
- Minister of Health — Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity) retains his post,
- Minister of Education and Science — Ilze Indriksone (National Alliance),
- Minister of Culture — Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance),
- Minister of Interior — Jānis Dombrava (National Alliance),
- Minister of Climate and Energy — Jānis Vitenbergs (National Alliance),
- Minister of Economy — Viktors Valainis (Union of Greens and Farmers) retains his post,
- Minister of Welfare — Reinis Uzulnieks (Union of Greens and Farmers) retains his post,
- Minister of Agriculture — Uldis Augulis (Union of Greens and Farmers).
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Andris Kulbergs on his election as Prime Minister of Latvia and assured that there will be close cooperation to counter hybrid threats.
Congratulations to Kulbergs on his election as Prime Minister of Latvia. We will work closely together to counter the hybrid threats facing Latvia and our Baltic partners. We will also join forces to build a strong, competitive European industry
Addendum
A new government had to be formed because the current Prime Minister Evika Siliņa submitted her resignation to the Saeima on May 14. As a result, the entire government resigned, having effectively collapsed a day earlier when the then-coalition partners, The Progressives, announced they no longer supported Siliņa and called for negotiations to form a new government.
On Saturday, May 16, President Edgars Rinkēvičs invited the then-opposition candidate for the post of Prime Minister, Saeima deputy Andris Kulbergs, to form a new government.
Rinkēvičs gave Kulbergs and the parties just over a week for negotiations — the President received the list of tasks and the potential composition of the government as early as May 25.