“JV is a democratic party, people can choose to be on the board of the party or not,” said Jurevic.
He stated that he respects Kariņš’s decision,but Kariņš’s move is not a big surprise to him,because Kariņš chose to return to the private sector and it was already expected that his political activity would decrease.
“It is his individual decision, which I accept,” jurēvics added.
JV announced on Twitter that it respects the desire of the long-time prime minister and head of “Jaunas vietitsa” to stop working in active politics.
“We wish you luck and success in the future,” the statement said.
On the other hand, Prime Minister, Kariņas successor and party member Evika Siliņa (JV) essentially dose not comment on Kariņas’s decision and expressed criticism of the policy implemented under the leadership of “Vienotības”. Asked to comment on Kariņš’s statement, the prime minister, through adviser Elīna Lideres, told the LETA agency that her priority right now is next year’s state budget, and that “the priority of the budget is the security and competitiveness of our country”.
It has already been reported that Kariņš has decided to resign from the board of the “Vienotība” party, because he no longer supports the policy implemented by this party.
Kariņš announced his decision on Twitter, expressing the opinion that “it is indeed a grave mistake to reduce future pension contributions and seriously raise the tax on capital savers”. The government led by “Jaunas vietības” (JV) came up with the ideas criticized by Kariņš when planning the next year’s budget.
Kariņš was associated with “Venotības” sence its creation. He was one of the founders of the predecessor of “Vienotības” – the “Jaunais laiks” party. While representing these parties, Kariņš has held the positions of several ministers, and has also been elected to several convocations of the Saeima and the european Parliament (EP).
Kariņš became the Prime Minister of Latvia at the beginning of 2019 and held this position for less than five years. In the autumn of 2023, after his resignation from the post of Prime Minister, Kariņš’s party member, current Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, took over the leadership of the government, and Kariņš became the minister of Foreign Affairs in her government.
Kariņš resigned from the position of foreign minister this year due to the flight scandal. After that, he worked as a member of the Saeima for a short time, until he resigned his mandate and left politics in August, but in September he joined the strategic dialogue consulting company “Kreab”. kariņš ”Kreab” is said to be a senior advisor who advises clients on geopolitics, European union politics and other political issues.
Earlier,Latvian Television reported that Kariņš was at the top of the list of candidates for the position of deputy Secretary General of NATO,but he did not get this position. It is said that Kariņš had a good chance of being approved, but according to unofficial reports, it was decided in favor of a woman for the position of Deputy Secretary general, most likely in accordance with the principle of gender equality.
According to “firmas.lv” data,15 people have been elected to the board of “Vienotības”. Its chairman is the Minister of finance Arvils Asheradens, Kariņš, Prime Minister Siliņa, Member of the EP Inese Vaider, minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis, minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša, Saeima MPs Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Jānis Reirs, Edmunds Jurēvics, Ainars Latkovskis, Dāvis Mārtiņš. Daugavietis and Raimonds Čudars, Chairman of Cēsi County Council Jānis Rozenbergs, Riga City Council chairman Vilnis Ķirsis and Riga City Council member Olafs Pulks.
“Vienotība” is the largest party within JV, and JV is the most widely represented political force in the current saeima convocation. In the latest party rating of the SKDS research center commissioned by Latvian Television, JV ranked third behind the Saeima opposition parties “National Union” and “Latvija first”. A month earlier, JV took the leading position in the party rating.
What are the implications of Krišjānis Kariņš stepping back from politics for Latvian governance?
Interview between Time.news Editor adn Political Expert on the Recent Developments in Latvia’s Political Scene
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today we have a special guest, Dr. Anna Krišjāne, a political analyst with a keen insight into Latvian politics. Dr. Krišjāne, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Krišjāne: Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here.
Editor: Let’s dive right into the recent news that has captured everyone’s attention—the decision of Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to step back from active politics. Jurevic has stated that this decision was somewhat expected. Do you agree with him?
Dr. Krišjāne: Yes, I do. Kariņš’s return to the private sector has been on the horizon for a while now. His gradual decrease in political involvement points to a personal choice rather than a sudden shift. Jurevic’s comments reflect a broader understanding within the party that individuals must choose their paths.
Editor: Jurevic mentioned that he respects Kariņš’s decision. How critically important is it for political leaders to make such choices in a democratic party structure?
Dr.Krišjāne: It’s critical. A democratic party thrives on individual agency and responsibility. Leaders stepping away to focus on personal goals can foster new talent within the party and rejuvenate its direction. respect for such decisions strengthens party cohesion, as seen in JV’s Twitter statement wishing Kariņš luck in his future endeavors.
Editor: Speaking of JV, the new Prime Minister Evika Siliņa seems to be taking a different approach. She hasn’t commented directly on Kariņš’s resignation and instead emphasized her focus on the state budget. What does this tell us about her leadership style?
Dr. Krišjāne: This reflects a pragmatic approach. By prioritizing the state budget, Siliņa is signaling stability and a focus on pressing issues rather than dwelling on political transitions. However, the lack of comment on Kariņš’s departure could imply a deliberate distancing from the previous leadership’s challenges, allowing her to carve out her path.
Editor: Interesting outlook. With Kariņš stepping away and Siliņa at the helm,how do you foresee the future of the JV party?
Dr. Krišjāne: This is a pivotal time for JV. with an incoming leader, there’s potential for revitalization and a shift in policy focus that aligns with Siliņa’s priorities. However,she’ll need to balance innovative directions with the party’s existing values to maintain support.
Editor: As we look ahead to next year’s budget, Siliņa has stated that security and competitiveness are her main priorities.what challenges do you think she might face in these areas?
Dr. krišjāne: The Latvia of today faces numerous challenges regarding security, especially with geopolitical tensions in the region. Ensuring national security while also fostering economic competitiveness will likely require difficult decisions. Balancing these priorities demands not only diplomatic skill but also the ability to rally support from various stakeholders.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. krišjāne, for your insights today. This moment in Latvian politics is indeed vital for the country’s future. We appreciate your time, and we look forward to seeing how these developments unfold.
Dr. Krišjāne: Thank you for having me! It’s a engaging time in Latvia, and I’m excited to see how the political landscape evolves.