Out with the old, in with the old

RIGA -- Following an extraordinary session of Saeima, the Latvian parliament on Dec. 20, the country emerged with a new government headed by Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis.

However, hopes that the new year would see a genuinely fresh approach from a new administration look questionable given the fact that the coalition government is formed of exactly the same four parties as the previous government.

Godmanis' cabinet contains a few new faces, but also many familiar ones in key positions. Maris Riekstins continues as foreign minister, Helena Demakova keeps the culture brief, and Ainars Slesers carries on as Transport Minister despite being sued for 100,000 lats (xxx euros) in a defamation action brought by state Auditor Inguna Sudraba.

Recent arrival and failed prime ministerial candidate Edgars Zalans gets to keep control of the regional development ministry.

Before the vote on the new government, Godmanis said he did not see a single minister in his government whose experience and qualifications could not be described as professional.

Opposition figures including former minister Aigars Stokenbergs pointed out that Godmanis' previous stint as prime minister in 1990-93 was seen by many people as the time when Latvia's oligarchs rose to prominence by overseeing dubious privatization deals.

The government was approved with 54 votes to 43, without abstentions. Lawmakers from the New Era, Harmony Center and For Human Rights in United Latvia (PCTVL) parties all voted against the Godmanis-led Cabinet with the exception of Nikolajs Kabanovs from PCTVL, who supported the new government.

After the vote Godmanis told the press that the new Cabinet would do everything to refute predictions that his government would be short-lived.

Godmanis admitted it was difficult to make forecasts on the first decisions of the new government, but he mentioned the floundering privatization of Lattelecom, the regulation of tariffs and the wage increases promised to medics, policemen, teachers and others as the most urgent issues his ministers would have to address.

Only four of the nominated ministers were not part of the previous government headed by Aigars Kalvitis.

The People's Party will have seven ministerial posts in the new government -- Maris Riekstins as foreign minister, Atis Slakteris as finance minister, Vinets Veldre as defense minister, Helena Demakova as culture minister, Edgars Zalans as regional development and municipal affairs minister. The new ministers delegated by the People's Party are parliament legal committee head Mareks Seglins as the interior minister and Kuldiga hospital director Ivars Eglitis as health minister.

The Greens' And Farmers' Union (ZZS) will be represented by five ministers, including four who served in the outgoing government: Martins Roze as agriculture minister, Raimonds Vejonis as environment minister, Iveta Purne as welfare minister are joined by new education and science minister Tatjana Koke.

The premier's LPP/LC party will have three more ministerial posts -- Ainars Slesers as transport minister, Ainars Bastiks as children's and family affairs minister, and Oskars Kastens as social integration minister.

TB/LNNK will be responsible for three positions: Gaidis Berzins as justice minister and Normunds Broks as European Union (EU) funds absorption minister are joined by Kaspars Gerhards as economics minister, filling a vacancy that has been open for three months.

Former Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis announced in early November that his government would step down on Dec. 5 because it had lost the trust of the public. Now a cabinet consisting largely of the same people will attempt to win back that trust.