Egils Levits
Valsts prezidents un Ministru prezidents: ir jāapstiprina amatā ekonomikas ministrs
President of Latvia Egils Levits and Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš discussed a broad range of current issues during a call today.

President Levits and Prime Minister Kariņš talked about compliance with emergency restrictions imposed by the government due to Covid-19 and supply of protective gear for healthcare providers.

Restrictions imposed by the government coupled with active police monitoring have had a positive effect on the curbing of the Covid-19 and society has become more responsible. Egils Levits and Krišjānis Kariņš underlined the need to strengthen the capacity of Crisis Management Centre to confront Covid-19 and make its work more publicly visible.

President and Premier also discussed the legal and epidemiological implications of extending the state of emergency.

Egils Levits un Krišjānis Kariņš exchange views on personal data protection during the emergency. President and Prime Minister both agreed that efficiency and proportionality are key considerations.

Egils Levits and Krišjānis Kariņš agreed that it is necessary to support media sector, which has been impacted by the current emergency. Availability of reliable and diverse news sources is decisive at times of crisis and government will debate appropriate aid package as soon as possible.

Role of constitutional law during an emergency was another topic discussed by the two officials. President Levits and Prime Minister Kariņš stressed the need to modernise the Section 81 of Satversme and come up with a wording that ensures efficient emergency decision-making characteristic to democratic system.

Prime Minister Kariņš briefed President about the latest efforts of the government. Tomorrow, on 2 April, parliament will vote on the appointment of Jānis Vitenbergs to the position of the Minister for Economics. President and Prime Minister agreed that it is important for the new minister to join the government as soon as possible in a given circumstance. Minister for Economics must build a team of competent and respectable experts at the helm of the ministry.

President Levits also pointed out that in these unusual circumstances it is important for state and municipal institutions to be pragmatic instead of too formal and help society overcome various problems as smoothly as possible.