Speaking to LSM after a cabinet meeting, environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Pūce (Development/For!) said:
"In May we will present a policy paper in cabinet, deciding on the criteria that will be used to regulate how big the local governments will be and also the actual map of local governments... if it will be approved by the cabinet then we will proceed with consultations with all local governments and then in the autumn we will put forward a new law on administrative territories that will set out the new map of Latvian local government."
However, this will only be the start of a lengthy process that is likely to take years rather than months, with the ultimate aim being to have the new system in place and fully functioning by the time of the next scheduled Saeima elections in 2021, Pūce said.
Listen to the audio interview for a full overview of the plan and an explanation of why regional reform is considered to be such a priority.
