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Riga, June 19 (LETA) - Parliament lawmakers today supported current MP Raimonds Cudars (New Unity) as the Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development.

A total of 52 coalition MPs, as well as Olegs Burovs (Honor To Serve Riga), Andrejs Celapiters and Igors Rajevs voted in favor of Cudars. The remaining MPs did not vote.

Before the vote, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) pointed out that the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development is a broad spectrum ministry, where issues related to digitization, local government, regional development and the electoral process have to be addressed simultaneously. In such circumstances, a person with a broad vision, experience and high professionalism is needed.

She stressed that Cudars has been the head of Salaspils municipality for more than ten years, which demonstrates both his understanding of municipal work and his ability to manage and develop it in the long term. In addition, he has served as the Minister of Climate and Energy, is an experienced member of the parliament and a trained lawyer who is well versed in public administration and the legislative process. Silina expressed confidence that Cudars would be able to take up his duties without the need for a run-in period.

She pointed out that an agreement has been reached with Cudars on specific priorities, including the development of digital governance with a particular focus on the use of artificial intelligence in public administration, the development of the Eastern border and strengthening security in the region, the promotion of regional growth and closer dialogue with municipalities, as well as a thorough evaluation of the electoral process and preparations for the next parliamentary elections.

Silina stressed that not only the Central Electoral Commission and the ministry should take responsibility for the shortcomings in the electoral process, but also the role of the State Data Protection Inspectorate should be assessed. At the same time, she believes that responsibility should also be demanded from the business community, which will have to pay for the mistakes. There is also a need to assess the mistakes made by staff, especially in the area of communication, and to prepare properly for the coming year.

The prime minister also thanked Inga Berzina (New Unity) for her work in the ministry so far, including the establishment of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the development of the Action Plan for the Eastern Border and the move towards a governance model for the development of the Riga Metropolitan Area.

Before the vote in the Saeima, Edgars Tavars (United List) said that he did not believe that changing one minister would change anything and that the promises made by the government would be fulfilled. Therefore, the United List does not support the candidacy of Cudars, Tavars said.

Edvards Smiltens (United List), on the other hand, hopes that Cudars will defend municipalities in his work, because the current policy is that as soon as there are changes in taxes, municipalities are among the first to suffer in the budget.

"Understanding that next year's budget process will be very complicated and that our economic forecasts are not very bright, I hope that Cudars will take the opportunity to defend the interests of Latvia's municipalities and their citizens in every such decision," Smiltens said.

As the minister, his first priority will be the technical support of elections. "The public is waiting for an answer as to why this happened in previous elections and what needs to be done to prevent this type of problem from happening again," said Cudars.

That is why he is waiting for the completion of the service investigation, which was initiated by the previous minister Berzina, to see if and what decisions should be taken about it. Including whether the currently suspended Director of the National Agency for Digital Development, Jorens Liopa, should possibly be dismissed altogether or reinstated in his position.

Cudars stressed that the electoral system must be fully credible so that next year's parliamentary elections can be secured without problems.

As for his immediate priorities as the minister, he highlighted the issues related to the changes in the allocation of state secrets. For the first time, local council chairmen and their deputies will also be required to have security clearance for access to state secrets. If a local government official is not granted such a clearance, the Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development will have to decide on his or her removal, explained Cudars.

He also highlighted the regional development of the country's eastern border region as an important work of the Minister for Smart Administration and Regional Development. "It is important to ensure that this region at least keeps pace with the rest of the country," Cudars said.

Cudars' place in the Saeima will be taken by Janis Zarins.

Cudars was nominated for the post of Minister by the New Unity. Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) pointed out that Cudars has experience in local government as the long-serving mayor of Salaspils. He has worked both as a minister and as an MP, and has a good knowledge of the areas of the Smart Administration and Regional Development Ministry.

Silina and Cudars have agreed on priorities - the development of digital and artificial intelligence, the evaluation of the electoral process and preparations for the parliamentary elections, the strengthening of the eastern border and regional development.

The former Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development Inga Berzina (New Unity) resigned, taking political responsibility for the problems in the local elections.

According to information in LETA's archives, Cudars was born in 1974. He graduated as a lawyer from the University of Latvia in 1996. From 2002 to 2009 he was a practicing lawyer.

In 2001, Cudars was elected to the Salaspils local council from the list of the Latvian Union of Farmers, and in 2005 he was elected to the Salaspils local Council from the list of the New Era.

In 2009, Cudars was elected to the Salaspils local council from the joint list of the New Era and For Fatherland and Freedom, and was elected as the chairman of the municipal council.

Cudars was also re-elected to the Salaspils local council in 2013, 2017 and 2021 from the Unity list, and held the position of the council chairman from 2009 to 2022.

In December 2022, the Saeima approved the second government led by Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity), in which Cudars served as Minister of Climate and Energy.