Last week, officials were determined to select the next foreign minister as fast as possible, but the search has proven to be more complicated than initially thought. Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) commented:
"We need a person in the position who is ready to work very actively, be a fighter, and stand up for Latvian and Ukrainian interests, and represent the state with all their might. I cannot name any names right now. I am looking for someone who knows politics, because it is important to understand, outside foreign policy, how politicians work in Europe."
Once the candidate is known, New Unity and coalition partners will hold discussions. PM Siliņa said that it is unlikely to happen by Wednesday when departing Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš leaves office.
Siliņa previously said that the next minister is unlikely to be non-partisan, and there are enough suitable candidates in the New Unity ranks. Unofficially, the former parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševiča, current Justice Minister Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, former Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, and Ambassador of Special Assignments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže have been mentioned.
