First draft of the V. Dombrovskis government (updated)

Valdis Dombrovskis declared today that he would announce the list of the new cabinet members on Wednesday morning . Until now the initial draft looks as follows:

Prime Minister — Valdis Dombrovskis (New Era-NE)
Minister of Forign Affairs — Māris Riekstiņš (People's Party-PP)
Minister of Defense — Candidate from the Civic Union (CU) (probability to have either V. Kristovskis or Kārlis Šadurskis)
Minister of Justice — Mareks Segliņš (PP)
Minister of Economy — Artis Kampars (NE)
Minister of Finance — Einars Repše (NE)
Minister of Transportation — Kaspars Gerhards (Fatherland Party)
Minister of Interior — Linda Mūrniece (NE)
Minister o Education — Tatjana Koķe (Union of Greens and Farmers-UGF)
Minister of Culture — Candidate from the PP ( probability to have Juris Žagars)
Minister of Agriculture — Jānis Dūklavs (UGF)
Minister of Welfare — Uldis Augulis (UGF)
Minister of Municipal Affairs — Edgars Zalāns (PP)
Minister of Health — Ivars Eglītis (PP)
Minister of Environment — Raimonds Vējonis (UGF)

Out of fifteen ministries there are five ministers from the previous government, three members of NE party have ministerial experience, and a true newcomer of this list is the former brewer Jānis Dūklavs. There could be a newcomer also for the Minister of Culture post, and unless the Civic Union party would propose Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, we could have newcomer also in the Ministry of Defense.

It is too early to judge the future cabinet, because this draft list could still be amended. However, the immediate tasks of cutting budget for about another EUR 1 billion until the end of March, does not allow the new government to start slimming the government. Otherwise such lacklustre ministers as K. Gerhards, T. Koķe, and M. Segliņš would not even be proposed. However, really good news is that the Latvian First Party/Latvia's Way (LFP/LW) would not be included in the governing coalition. Former PM Godmanis was offered to lead the Ministry of Agriculture but he perceived it rather like an insult. Thus, very much due to the Transport Supremo extravagance and Ivars Godmanis following him in short leash the once major liberal party is out of the government, again... .

Update

It is Wednesday morning and Valdis Dombrovskis has come up with the Minister of Defense candidature, while the Minister of Culture post being still vacant. The Civic Union has offered the post to its party member Imants Lieģis, a former ambassador to Spain.