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Interior minister says not to run for Latvian PM

Xinhua, December 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, whom Latvia's outgoing Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma endorsed as her possible successor earlier this week, has decided against running for the office of prime minister.

Kozlovskis said in an interview with public radio on Wednesday that he would prefer to carry on as interior minister because he had many jobs to finish.

"I believe that there should be another premiership candidate," Kozlovskis said, asking not to consider his candidacy anymore.

The minister believed at the same time that decision about Latvia' s next prime minister and government coalition should be reached as soon as possible, given that his center-right Unity party has received "quite a beating" over internal disagreements recently.

Kozlovskis said his decision not to run for the office of prime minister was based on both professional and private considerations.

Asked if he would endorse Unity leader Solvita Aboltina as a candidate for Latvia's next prime minister, Kozlovskis pointed out that Aboltina was so far the only politician to express readiness to take the helm of the new cabinet.

"I see no other candidates," Kozlovskis said.

Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma announced her resignation on Monday. She endorsed Interior Minister Kozlovskis as her potential successor. Endit