Karins waiting for United List to give "clear answer" on proposed distribution of responsibilities

RIGA - New Unity leader and Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins  is waiting for the United List to give a "clear answer" to his proposal on the distribution of responsibilities in Latvia's next government. 

Asked about the situation with his proposal, Karins told LETA that he is waiting for a "clear answer" from the United List - "whether they are ready to move ahead or not". The prime minister noted that the National Alliance and New Unity are ready to continue the government formation process, while the United List has yet to give its answer. 

As soon as the would-be coalition has reached an agreement on the distribution of ministries, it will be able to move ahead smoothly and draft the government declaration, Karins said. He also referred to President Egils Levits' position that the areas of responsibility must be distributed among the coalition partners before starting work on the government declaration. 

Drafting the government declaration is a "multifaceted process" where everyone has to know their areas of responsibility so that the work can be properly coordinated, Karins said. 

Asked what United List representatives have told him, Karins said that none of them has said that the prime minister's proposal is unacceptable or wrong.

As reported, according to Karins' proposal, the New Unity would hold the positions of the prime minister, the finance minister, the foreign minister, the education and science minister, the justice minister, the climate and energy minister and the welfare minister.

The United List are offered the positions of the interior minister, the agricultural minister, the health minister and the regional development and digitalization affairs minister. The National Alliance are offered the positions of the defense minister, the culture minister, the transport minister and the economics minister.