Latvia's outgoing ministers thank PM Siliņa in final government session

Latvia's government, led by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, convened for its final session on Tuesday, marking the end of its term. Siliņa acknowledged the demanding nature of their tenure, stating, "It was a very busy time when we made many important decisions." She expressed gratitude to all ministers, state secretaries, and their deputies for their dedicated work.

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It was a very busy time when we made many important decisions.

During the session, several outgoing ministers took the opportunity to thank Siliņa for her leadership. Economics Minister Viktors Valainis praised her for navigating complex issues and overseeing the adoption of three state budgets, emphasizing her personal contribution to the team's success. Culture Minister Agnese Lāce also commended Siliņa's leadership and acknowledged the government's decisions in human rights and taxation. Education and Science Minister Dace Melbārde highlighted an intensive period that saw three major reforms in education, including the transition to Latvian as the language of instruction and reforms in higher education.

Justice Minister Inese Lībiņa-Egnere noted Latvia's advancement in human rights indices during Siliņa's term, underscoring the government's collective effort in prioritizing justice and democratic values, which she believes also attracts investment. Foreign Minister Baiba Braže thanked her colleagues for their cooperation and trust, appreciating Siliņa's advocacy for national security and democratic principles. Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri reported significant progress in the health sector, including reduced prescription drug prices and advancements in primary care. Transport Minister Atis Švinka also acknowledged Siliņa's personal contribution to facilitating legislative changes in the transport sector.

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It is Siliņa's personal contribution that all this succeeded. You led our team constructively and understandingly.

Reflecting on the government's performance, Siliņa admitted that while some criticism was justified and not all plans materialized as intended, the cabinet worked diligently and efficiently to complete essential tasks. She noted that among the government's significant actions was an order to mitigate the increased costs of electricity bills, which was one of the first issues addressed by her administration.

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This is the government's common work. We have shown that justice is important. We are showing that as a rule of law and democratic country we care about people. This also promotes investment.