Saeima approves Daniels Pavluts as health minister

RIGA - Saeima today approved MP Daniels Pavluts (For Development)  as the health minister.

The decision was made with 61 votes to three, while 32 lawmakers did not participate in the vote.

Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) voiced confidence that Pavluts is ready to start work in the position of the health minister. During meeting with Pavluts, Karins learned that the priorities of the future minister are the same as of the prime minister - the state should look for ways to be more proactive and fast and clear vaccination process should be set as the priority. Also, the minister should have good communication with the sector, clearly defend and explain the opinion to the society.

"Pavluts is a very good candidates. He is ready to start this work. He would not start from scratch, he has experience," said Karins.

Pavluts said that he has a feeling like he is going to a war. "The situation in the country is awful, people are dying, we are in the worst point of the pandemic," he said. Pavluts thanked medics, saying that they are in the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. He promised support to medics, underscoring that he will meet with medics' organizations, he said that the dialogue with the sector will be his everyday work, as well as communication with the society.

"Starting from tomorrow, speeding up of vaccination will be my main priority. Vaccination is the light at the end of the tunnel. I would like to thank Ilze Vinkele, who, in my opinion, was an excellent minister. I will continue her work, the course will not change," said Pavluts.

The new health minister also promised to work with other issues important for the sector, such as medics' wages and hospital reforms.

As reported, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins on Tuesday filed a motion of no confidence in Health Minister Ilze Vinkele and, in line with the cooperation agreement, has called on For Development/For to name a new candidate for the health minister.

Movement For has picked its leader and Saeima member Daniels Pavluts as a candidate for Latvia's next health minister.

Pavluts was the economics minister in the government of Valdis Dombrovskis (New Unity) in 2011, and in 2013 became the acting environment protection and regional development minister. He lost the minister's position in December 2013 when Dombrovskis stepped down as the prime minister after the Maxima store collapse.

In 2014 Pavluts joined the Reform Party and later was its board member. In 2017 he was one of the founders of Movement For and took up the party's board chairman position later. In 2018 he was elected to the parliament as a member of For Development/For ticket.