Latvia can not only be equal to, but also surpass the other Baltic states - Silina

RIGA - Together with other colleagues we can show that Latvia is not only equal to, but also capable of surpassing the other two Baltic states, said Evika Silina, the Prime Minister candidate of New Unity (JV) and current Minister of Welfare, at a press conference on Wednesday.

Silina thanked her voters, who elected her to the 14th Saeima, allowing her to later become a minister, New Unity's decision-making bodies for nominating her, and Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) for his work.

The opportunity to lead the government will not be easy, but a mission, said Silina, expressing her readiness to assume these responsibilities if President Edgars Rinkevics decides to nominate her for the post of Prime Minister.

The new government's goal should be security, quality education, "sufficiently comprehensible" access to health services, human rights, equal treatment and the completion of the transition process to Latvian-language education in 2025, with the aim of a homogeneous, united society, Silina stressed.

The politician also pointed out that work should be done to "first of all maintain" and also improve the quality of life, as well as to address the issues of border regions.

Priority work to be done is to find a solution to the increase in tariffs for electricity distribution and the increase in mortgage payments, the JV PM candidate stressed.

As reported, the joint meeting of the New Unity and the Unity's council on Wednesday decided to nominate Welfare Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) as the party's candidate for the prime minister.

Silina was elected to the 14th Saeima from the New Unity's list. In the Vidzeme constituency, Silina won the third best result among the New Unity's candidates, receiving 4, 509 pluses and 2,154 deletions.

Silina was born in 1975. She studied at the University of Latvia, obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Law and qualification as a lawyer, and at Riga Graduate School of Law, obtaining a Master's degree in Social Sciences, Law and International Law and European Law.

In November 2011, she became the legal aide to the Interior Minister, and in January 2013, Parliamentary Secretary at the Interior Ministry.

In February 2019, she left the position of the Parliamentary Secretary of the Interior Ministry to become the Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity).

Since December 2022, in Karins' second government, Silina has been the Welfare Minister. She is also a member of the board of the Unity party.

It has already been reported that the President of the Republic nominates the prime minister-designate in accordance with the Constitution after consulting politicians.

Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins announced on Monday that he will resign from the post of prime minister and will not run for the post again. On Thursday, Karins will submit his resignation to President Edgars Rinkevics.

The New Unity has 26 seats in the Saeima, the Union of Greens and Farmers - 16, and the Progressives - 10, which gives the so-called core of the possible new government a total of 52 votes, or a minimum majority.

The former coalition members, the United List has 15 MPs and the National Alliance has 13 seats.

The opposition party Stability has 10 seats and Latvia First has eight. There are also two independent MPs.