At least five potential ministers in Krišjāņis Kariņš’s forming government are preparing to put down their deputy mandates. There are also candidates who have yet to make up their mind.

Deputies approved in minister posts have the option to put down their parliament deputy’s mandate in order to work as minister. If this deputy puts down their mandate, another deputy is picked to replace them in the parliament.

Of the thirteen minister candidates ten are elected in the Saeima. Five of them have said they have no plans to combine posts. Respectively, they plan to put down their deputy mandate. For example, KPV LV welfare minister candidate Ramona Petraviča still has not decided what to do, saying she will rely on the faction’s opinion.

New Conservative Party leader Jānis Bordāns also plans to put down his Saeima deputy mandate. He said he will do this in order to focus on work as a minister. Bordāns could be replaced in the parliament by Jānis Cielēns.

New Conservative Party’s education minister candidate is Ilga Šuplinska and transport minister candidate is Tālis Linkaits. These politicians have been elected to the Saeima. Linkaits could be replaced by Jānis Butāns, and Šuplinska – by Andris Kazinovskis.

This week KPV LV picked a new economy minister candidate Ralfs Nemiro. This was done because Dizdis Šmits has decided to withdraw. Nemiro may be replaced in the parliament by Jelgava County Council deputy Aivars Geidāns.

The party has also picked a new welfare minister candidate – initially Ieva Krapāne was the one, but she decided to withdraw later on. KPV LV then picked Ramona Petraviča. She could be replaced in the parliament by Saldus County municipal environment management specialist Edgars Kronbergs.

The party has also picked Sandis Ģirģens, but he is not elected in the parliament.

Aside from the Prime Minister’s seat, New Unity will take charge over Finance Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry. Edgars Rinkēvičs is the party’s candidate for the post of Foreign Affairs Minister, and Jānis Reirs – as the Finance Minister. Both of them are elected in the 13^th Saeima.

Rinkēvičs has confirmed through his advisor Mārtiņš Drēģers that he will put down his Saeima deputy’s mandate to serve as minister. He could be replaced in the Saeima by Kārlis Šadurskis, who currently serves in the European Parliament. The next in line is Latvia’s current interior affairs minister Rihards Kozlovskis.

Should Reirs put down his mandate, he could be replaced in the Saeima by Atis Lejiņš.

Attīstībai/Par has decided to pick Artis Pabriks for the post of defence minister, Juris Pūce for the post of environment protection minister, and Ilze Viņķele for the post of healthcare minister.

Pabriks and Pūce are both elected in the Saeima. These two could be replaced in the parliament by Mārtiņš Šteins and Dace Bluķe, respectively. Pabriks has confirmed plans to put down his mandate.

National Alliance believes Dace Melbārde should remain Latvia’s culture minister, and Kaspars Gerhards should remain as the country’s agriculture minister.