New five-party coalition gov't takes office in Latvia

RIGA. March 13. KAZINFORM The Latvian parliament on Thursday approved a new five-party coalition government headed by Valdis Dombrovskis.

Dombrovskis, 37, is from the center-right opposition party New Era and currently a member of the European Parliament. The new government, approved by 67 votes to 21, consists of the People's Party, New Era, Green and Farmers' Union, Motherland and Freedom Union and the Civic Union. It includes 14 ministries, two less than the previous government of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis. Seven ministers, including the Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, will remain in their posts. Addressing parliament before the vote, Dombrovskis pledged that the new government will make every effort to deal with the economic difficulties and restore the people's confidence. "The task of the new government will be to pass unpopular decisions. We have to be very frank with the people," Dombrovskis said. "We have to decide on an austerity regime to avoid bankruptcy." Latvia's previous center-right coalition government, which took office in December 2007, resigned on Feb. 20 after weeks of instability triggered by economic woes and mounting political pressure. On Feb. 26, Latvian President Valdis Zatlers nominated Dombrovskis, who was the finance minister, to be the country's new prime minister. Battered by the worst global economic crisis in 80 years, the Latvian economy slipped into recession in 2008, Kazinform cites Xinhua.