Pudans could receive majority support in parliament to become next NBS commander

  • 2024-11-21
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - There could be majority support within parliament to confirm Brigadier General Kaspars Pudans as the next commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS) after he was nominated for the post by President Edgars Rinkevics.

The head of the Progressives' group at Saeima Andris Suvajevs confirmed to LETA that the party's MPs will support Pudans' candidacy.

The head of New Unity's group at Saeima Edmunds Jurevics is positive about the President's decision to nominate Pudans, as his record and patriotic stance have shown that he will be a good leader of the NBS. The largest parliamentary faction is scheduled to hear Pudans, but the faction leader will call for support for his nomination.

"His professionalism, human qualities and vision for the further development of the National Armed Forces are at the right time and place for Latvia's security," Jurevics told LETA.

The head of the Union of Greens and Farmers' group at Saeima Harijs Rokpelnis said that a decision within the party has not yet been made and will still be assessed, but that he "does not see any reason for any hurdles".

National Alliance MP Janis Dombrava said that Pudans' candidacy was honorable and supportable. The politician had a "very good impression of Pudans as commander of the National Guard".

"He knows very well how the NBS is built from the bottom to the top," the opposition politician said, assessing that Pudans would have no problems to work together also with international partners.

The head of the United List's group at Saeima Edgars Tavars told LETA that the faction will invite Pudans for a meeting so that they could hear the general's vision on the development of the armed forces and the country's defense capabilities, and then a decision will be taken on whether to support his candidacy.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Latvia First party Ainars Slesers told LETA that the party's Saeima group will support Pudans' candidacy.

The leader of Stability Aleksejs Roslikovs said that he has "only heard good feedback" about Pudans, but has never met him.

The Ministry of Defense informs that Pudans has been serving in the National Armed Forces since 1994, and from February 22, 2023 he will took over the duties of Commander of the National Guard. He received his military education at the Latvian National Defense Academy, the Baltic Defense College in Estonia and the Military Academy in France. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Law and a Master's degree in Quality Management.

Pudans has more than 20 years of service experience in the NBS, serving in the Land Forces, National Guard, NBS Joint Staff. He has gained international service experience in the international operation in Afghanistan, as well as in his duties as Military Representative at the NATO/EU Military Representation in Brussels.

According to the Law on the National Armed Forces, the National Armed Forces Commander is approved by the Saeima for a four-year term of office and dismissed from his post upon the proposal of the President of the Republic.