Latvia, Legislation

Behmane said in an interview with the LNT show 900 sekundes this morning that Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (Unity) had already been informed about the decision.

According to Behmane, her decision is due to the short period of time she would work as the health minister. By agreeing to hold the position for a couple of months, she would have to resign from her current job and halt work on projects currently under way.

Behmane said that Straujuma was disappointed to learn about her decision. Behmane added that she would advise and support Straujuma in matters concerning healthcare. She did not rule out the possibility that Straujuma could continue to work as the acting health minister and stop looking for a new candidate, setting up a task force instead to run the health care field until a new government is confirmed after the 12th Saeima elections this fall.

As reported, former Health Minister Ingrida Circene, who was recovering from a long illness, submitted her resignation to Straujuma on July 7.

Initially, Straujuma turned to Vice-Rector for Development at Riga Stradins University Toms Baumanis offering him to become the next health minister, but he turned the offer down.