Dombrovskis appointed new PM

Feb 26, 2009
From wire reports

RIGA – The Latvian president has given New Era candidate Valdis Dombrovskis, an MEP, the post of prime minister and the task of forming a new government.

President Valdis Zatlers said on Thursday that six political parties have thrown their support behind Dombrovskis.

"If we count all pros and cons, then each candidate has his priorities, but, if we look at the country's current priorities, they are finances, economy and optimization of state administration, in exactly this order. Taking into account what political parties voiced on Monday and Tuesday, the opinions of the candidates about processes in the country, I have selected one of them... I invite Valdis Dombrovskis to form the Cabinet of Ministers," the president said.

He said Dombrovskis has experience in finances and economy as well as in work with the European Union institutions, while the other candidate, Edgars Zalans, was more experienced in state administration reform issues.

"If we look at the country's priorities, then Dombrovskis is better in financial and economic competence and cooperation with the European Union institutions, while Zalans has competence in state administration reforms," said Zatlers.

The president said that competence of both candidates compared with late 2007 when they both competed for the prime minister's post with Ivars Godmanis has increased significantly.

He said he would invite New Era, the People's Party, the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS), the Civic Union and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (TB/LNNK) to join the coalition, while the involvement of Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way (LPP/LC) remains an open question. Dombrovskis noted New Era was against reappointing those ministers of the previous government that have earned negative publicity, such as former finance minister Atis Slakteris and transport minister Ainars Slesers.

Lawmakers from the opposition Society for Other Politics -- Aigars Stokenbergs and Artis Pabriks -- have also pledged support to the Dombrovskis-led Cabinet.

New Era believes the new government must be able to ensure the resumption of crediting by providing assistance to businesses and production, to trim down the public administration, as well as to make necessary changes in the taxation policy to ensure economic recovery.

New Era nominated Dombrovskis for prime minister already in late 2007, but the president then chose Ivars Godmanis as the new head of government.

Dombrovskis, 38, has a master's degree in physics and a bachelor's degree in economics. He has also studied in Germany and the U.S.

Dombrovskis started his career at the University of Latvia, Institute of Solid-State Physics, and in 1998 he started work at the Bank of Latvia.

His political career began in 2002 when he was elected to the board of the newly-established New Era party. Dombrovskis has headed the Finance Ministry for nearly two years. In 2004 he was elected to the European Parliament.

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