“We are happy that the President of Latvia has awakened after a successfully carried out surgery and he continues recovery,” emphasized the Head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia Guntis Puķītis by referring to the latest information furbished by the physicians of Stradiņš Hospital. “I wish to thank everyone for the many good thoughts and wishes for endurance, which are important support for Raimonds Vējonis and his family!”
During the meeting, both government officials also discussed topical issues on the agenda, cooperation and exchange of information among the state authorities during the illness of the President of Latvia.
The government officials agreed that the Saeima, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Chancery of the President of Latvia are able to respond to all the events in the country and to address all the issues at stake currently by working together.
As it is known, based on the President’s statement No. 2 of 19 January 2016 on the execution of the presidential duties, the Speaker of the Saeima performs the duties of the President of Latvia starting from 20 January 2016 during his illness until a further notice of the President of Latvia. The scope of the powers of the Speaker of the Saeima while performing the duties of the President of Latvia are stipulated in the second sentence of Section 52 of the Satversme (Latvian Constitution).
At this period of time, similarly to the time, when the President of Latvia is on vacation or abroad, the Speaker of the Saeima performs only those duties of the President of Latvia, performance of which does not depend on the President’s discretion and will. Such duties include, for instance, promulgation of laws or suspension of publication of a law for two months if requested by one third of the MPs of the Saeima.
The President’s agenda is currently updated according to the situation, by ensuring that no significant national affair would be delayed.
As it is known, according to the President’s Order of 13 January 2016 regarding the Cabinet of Ministers Māris Kučinskis was invited to form the Cabinet of Ministers. The President of Latvia has expressed his belief that formation of a fully capable and stable government is possible under the leadership of Māris Kučinskis.
During the process of government formation, Raimonds Vējonis has consistently called on the political parties represented in the Saeima to be constructive, prudent, and result-oriented during their negotiations so that the Government could be approved in the nearest future.
The confidence from the parliamentary majority is required for the new government to be able to begin its work. Therefore, the approval of a new Cabinet of Ministers is responsibility of the political parties represented in the Saeima and the Saeima itself. Until the approval of the new government, the Cabinet of Ministers led by Laimdota Straujuma continues its work.