Strods to spend more time with family

  • 2007-09-17
  • From wire reports

SO LONG: Few will feel that Strods' resignation is unwarranted, if and when it actually occurs

RIGA - Latvian Economics Minister Jurijs Strods has resigned from his position, in a move that has been expected for more than a month.

Strods informed Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis about his wish to resign at the weekend, reported the Baltic News Service.

"The minister wishes to resign due to family and private reasons. Obviously, he will take the final decision in the nearest days," Kalvitis said in an interview to Latvian public radio on Monday. No official resignation had been received when Kalvitis spoke on the morning of Sep. 17, but by the afternoon Strods finally got around to quitting.

The prime minister said that no talks had been held with coalition partners about possible replacement for Strods. "We have not had talks on the party level and the coalition has not discussed the issue either. When the issue will be on the agenda, be it today or any other day in the nearest future, we will discuss it," he said.

Kalvitis added that the work of the ministers will be assessed in October and was reluctant to speak of any other changes in the government.

"Of course, reports on the government declaration fulfillment will be presented in October. I will meet all the ministers and public organizations that would be interested. We will assess the work done during the year, the works that have not been done and then a particular decision on how to change or improve work will be taken in every single case. It is a process that has recurred several times. Changing ministers should not become the aim of the government, what we need is improvements in professionalism and quality. Uniting the team is also necessary," said Kalvitis.

Strods has been regarded as a 'dead duck' economics minister for some time. Even while Latvia's rampant inflation and overheated economy have dominated headlines, the economics minister has been notable only for his lack of any meaningful contribution or comment and chose a period of economic crisis to embark on a holiday.

Strods took up the position of economics minister in November 2006. Critics will regard it as typical of his entire tenure that rather than announcing his resignation in a straightforward manner, he has chosen to inform the prime minister of his intention to resign 's probably 's and use him as a messenger to the outside world.

"I have decided to leave the ministerial position. Although somemight want to connect my move with professional incompatibilities or disagreements of opinion within the government, I must say that I am morenecessary for my family as ever and it is the main reason for myresignation. I have decided in favor of the values of the human life Iconsider more important," said Strods.

He said that he tried to honestly take decisions in his time as economics minister. Hewished "inexhaustible determination to solve difficult state economyproblems and a strong backbone in defending the interests of the country,"to his successor.