New Unity has paid high price for Climate and Energy Ministry - political scientist

RIGA - New Unity has paid a high price for the Climate and Energy Ministry as it has also agreed to take charge of two difficult ministries - the Education and Science Ministry and the Welfare Ministry, Janis Ikstens, a political scientist and dean of the Social Sciences Faculty of the University of Latvia, told LETA. 

He added that considering Europe's Green Deal, Latvia will likely absorb sizable resources through the Climate and Energy Ministry. The expert believes that in return for this ministry, New Unity has been persuaded to take care of the the Education and Science Ministry and the Welfare Ministry. 

Meanwhile, the National Alliance has received two ministries that before the agreement on the Climate and Energy Ministry could be regarded as "money ministries" - the Transport Ministry and the Economics Ministry. Ikstens also noted that given its smaller number of votes, the National Alliance should not be entitled to these two "rich ministries", but since the Economics Ministry is no longer supervising the energy sector, it has become less attractive. 

The expert also pointed out that the United List has agreed to give the Defense Ministry to the National Alliance, and that it will be interesting to see whether current Agriculture Minister Kaspars Gerhards (National Alliance) will agree to become transport minister since there are no other obvious candidates for this post. 

As reported, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) has proposed that New Unity could get the climate and energy minister's portfolio, United List - the portfolio of the regional development minister, and National Alliance - the transport minister's portfolio.

In total, New Unity would have seven ministers in the new government: prime minister, finance minister, foreign minister, education and science minister, justice minister, climate and energy minister, and welfare minister.

United List, besides holding Saeima chairman's post, will have four ministers in the government: interior minister, agriculture minister, health minister, and regional development minister.

National Alliance will also be represented by four ministers in the new government: defense minister, culture minister, transport minister and economics minister.

The three parties will meet on Friday, November 4, to discuss Karins' proposal.