New government approved

After a two hour debate, the motion was carried with 67 votes to 33 votes against according to Dombrovskis' press secretary.

The new Latvian coalition government consists of five parties the former opposition New Era, the Civic Union as well as the People's Party, the Greens and Farmers' Union (ZZS), Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (TB/LNNK). The new coalition parties are represented by 64 lawmakers at the parliament.

New Era representative Einars Repse is the new finance minister, his fellow party member Artis Kampars will become the economics minister, and New Era representative Linda Murniece will be the interior minister.

Several People's Party ministers will remain in their previous posts -- Ivars Eglitis as the health minister, Maris Riekstins as the foreign minister and Edgars Zalans as the regional development and municipal affairs minister. The People's Party leader Mareks Seglins will now be the justice minister, and future People's Party member Ints Dalderis will be the culture minister.

Raimonds Vejonis and Tatajana Koke (ZZS) will be in charge of the Environment Ministry and the Education and Science Minister as before. Non-partisan Janis Duklavs has been named by ZZS for the agriculture minister and ZZS member Uldis Augulis will become the welfare minister.

Kaspars Gerhards from TB/LNNK will be the transport minister, Imants Liegis named by the Civic Union will be the defense minister.

The government of Ivars Godmanis from Latvia's First Party and Latvia's Way (LPP/LC) stepped down on Deb. 20 when the People's Party and ZZS asked Godmanis to resign. Godmanis had been heading the government since Dec. 20, 2007.