Health Minister and co-chair of the party board Daniel Pavļuts told Latvian Radio that Eklons was chosen for the position both due to his personal qualities and taking into account his long-term professional activities at VUGD, which falls under the responsibility of the Interior Ministry.
"It seemed very important to us that the person who should be invited to perform the duties of the Minister of the Interior at this time would be one who could bring confidence and trust that we are in safe hands," Pavļuts said.
Speaking to Latvian Television's "Rīta panorāma" news show, Eklons said he had been approached about the vacancy on Saturday and spent the rest of the weekend considering the offer.
"As I had not planned to participate in politics in the near or long term, practically all the justification is deep and only based on professionalism at the moment," Eklons said.
He said that he understands the general situation in the country and the Ministry of the Interior and intends to continue important projects that have already been started in the remaining months until Saeima election on October 1.
The main argument why Eklons agreed to be a candidate for the vacant position of Minister was the concern about the general situation in the development of the SFRS, the Ministry of the Interior and internal security.
Eklons received his higher education as a fire engineer at the Moscow Academy of Fire Safety in 1997, and almost all of his work experience has been associated with the VUGD, where he began working in 1995 as Deputy Commander of the District Center Division. He has not held any elected political positions.
