Indulis Emsis nieuwe premier van Letland (en)

EUOBSERVER/ RIGA - Following nearly one month of negotiations on the formation of the new government, Latvia has become the first and only country in the world with a Green prime minister.

On Tuesday (March 9) the Latvian parliament approved the cabinet of Indulis Emsis, one of the leaders of the Greens' and Farmers' Union (ZZS). The other coalition partners are the former opposition party People's Party (TP) and the Christian-oriented conservative Latvian First Party (LPP).

The success of the Greens in the Baltic country was already discussed during the first congress of the Green pan-European party on 21 February in Rome. Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga had then just nominated Mr Emsis as the next prime minister of the country.

Former Prime Minister Einars Repse announced his cabinet's resignation on February 5.

Mr Emsis has already announced that his first task will be to do a stock-take in the area of European integration in order to see how ready the country is to join the EU.

It is important to understand what has not been done and what the consequences of such errors can be, the new prime minister told journalists on Tuesday (March 9).

However, he has promised not to forget his green roots now that he is in his new post.

Latvia, along with nine other countries, will join the EU on 1 May.

Changing observers

But the latest developments in Latvian politics will also change the list of Latvian observers to the European Parliament, as one of them - Rihards Piks - has become the new Foreign Affairs minister. He will take over from Sandra Kalniete, who is to be Latvia's European Commissioner after enlargement.

The Latvian First Party is also expected to send a new observer to the European Parliament as its former observer, Paulis Klavins, joined the New Era party - the former prime minister's party - in mid February.