PM promises boost to government work, but does not yet reveal plans for reshuffle

RIGA - Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) plans to conclude her talks with her cabinet ministers by the end of this week before she announces plans for a "boost to government work" and a possible reshuffle of some ministers.

As Silina told reporters following the weekly coalition meeting, she still needs to talk to "some colleagues", but that later this week she will reveal information on the planned changes to the ministerial line-up.

The prime minister did not elaborate on the exact replacements that could be expected in the government.

"Everything will be fair and honest," Silina promised when asked how broad the changes in the composition of the government would be.

Silina added that this week she would inform the public about the key tasks that the government would have to carry out in the near term.

In recent weeks, several politicians in the government coalition have said that a "restart" in the government is needed and expected. The most plausible speculation is that the "restart" could take the form of a government reshuffle. Kaspars Briskens (Progressives), the minister in charge of the transport sector which is plagued by various problems, is often mentioned as the first candidate for replacement, but broader changes in the government are also possible, for example by replacing one minister from each of the coalition parties.

Broader changes in the ruling coalition, such as its expansion, have been mentioned less frequently, with political parties stressing that this would effectively mean the end of the Silina-led government and the emergence of a completely new coalition.

So far, the prime minister has held talks with almost all ministers on the implementation of the government's priorities for this year, as well as on the progress already made. Silina has has yet to met with two ministers - Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) and Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze (Greens/Farmers).

The prime minister's spokeswoman Elina Lidere told LETA that the meetings with the ministers were still ongoing and would be concluded in the coming days.

Silina started talks with the cabinet ministers in January.