2024-04-15 02:53:15
Unofficial information shows that the “New Unity” (JV) will nominate Braži for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
Antonina Nenasheva, deputy chairwoman of the “Progressives” Saeima faction, told LETA that it is difficult to comment on informal information and an official announcement should be expected, however, regardless of whether or not she will be promoted to the position of foreign minister, the “Progressives” see Braži as a professional in foreign affairs and especially important in the field of security, there are positive reviews about him.
If Braže were nominated for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, “she would be an excellent addition to the government”, said the politician, at the same time noting that after the announcement of the candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, the conversation with the applicant from the “Progressive” faction will also be important.
At first, the official nomination of the candidate should be expected from JV and Prime Minister Evikas Silina (JV), noted the deputy chairperson of the “Progresīvo” faction.
Harijs Rokpelnis, the chairman of the Saeima faction of the Union of Greens and Peasants (ZZS), also told LETA that we should wait for the official announcement of Silina and JV about the candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, but the unofficial candidacy of diplomat Braže would be a decent, adequate offer.
“The most important thing is to wait for an official announcement on this issue. But otherwise, it is a very adequate, decent offer. All the best,” said the head of the ZZS faction.
In the case of Braže’s nomination, the candidates will also want to be heard by members of the ZZS faction, said Rokpelnis.
When asked why finding a candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs took a little longer than originally planned, the ZZS politician stated that he considers this process as optimal. Although we usually want everything to happen both well and quickly, these two things rarely coincide, the politician emphasized.
As reported, according to unofficial information, JV plans to nominate Braži for the post of foreign minister on Monday. Siliņa refrains from directly commenting on this information, but says that she has approached “a candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs who matches the existing international and security situation – a professional with extensive experience and knowledge in the field of foreign affairs”.
A more extensive statement on this matter is planned for Monday, so that the next foreign minister can be approved by the Saeima in the near future, Prime Minister’s press secretary Alexis Zoldners told LETA.
Braže, ambassador for special tasks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was unofficially mentioned as the most reliable candidate for this position immediately after the resignation of the former minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV).
Braže has agreed to run if officially nominated, according to the unofficial information available to the LETA agency.
Latvijas Televīzija reports that members of the faction have already unofficially expressed their support for Braže’s candidacy, and JV plans to officially nominate him on Monday. She is planning to enroll in JV.
The LETA agency has not been able to contact Braži herself for two weeks to hear her thoughts about the possibility of taking the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Other candidates from the ranks of JV have been mentioned before – former parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, member of the Saeima Đirts Valdis Kristovskis and others, but there are various reasons why they are not considered real holders of the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Siliņa previously told journalists that Saeima factions have expressed their desire to meet with the next candidate for the position of foreign minister, and a discussion will also be necessary in the coalition. The next foreign minister is also traditionally questioned by the President.
Braže has held various positions in the foreign service, including being Latvian ambassador to several countries. Before becoming an ambassador for special tasks in the summer of 2023, she was NATO’s deputy secretary general for public diplomacy since May 2020.
As reported, the position of foreign minister has become vacant after Kariņš left it after the private flight scandal.
2024-04-15 02:53:15