Melbarde confirmed as Education and Science Minister

RIGA - The Saeima today confirmed Dace Melbarde (New Unity), the former parliamentary secretary of the Foreign Ministry, as the Education and Science Minister.

The decision was made with 54 votes to 35.

Melbarde, born in 1971, holds a Master's degree in Public Management from the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Latvia, and a Master's degree in Cultural Theory and Management from the Latvian Academy of Culture. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Latvia. Melbarde is currently working on her PhD thesis at the Latvian Academy of Culture.

Melbarde previously served in the Cabinet of Ministers as the Culture Minister from 2013 to 2019. She was then elected to the European Parliament, where she served until spring 2024, when she was not re-elected.

Before that, she was Director of the Latvian National Centre for Culture (LNKC) from 2011 to 2013, the Head of the British Council Representation in Latvia from 2009 to 2011, Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Policy at the Culture Ministry from 2004 to 2009, and Secretary-General of the Latvian National Commission for the UNESCO from 1999 to 2004.

In 2013, Melbarde was awarded the Order of the Three Stars, 3rd Class, and the Cabinet of Ministers' Order of Recognition. She has received several other awards.

As reported earlier, on February 21, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity), launched "restart" of the government, removing Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens (Progressives), Education Minister Anda Caksa (New Unity) and Welfare Minister Uldis Augulis (Greens/Farmers) from office.

Greens/Farmers have nominated Reinis Uzulnieks, Parliamentary Secretary of the Welfare Ministry, for Latvia's next welfare minister and New Unity has picked Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dace Melbarde (New Unity) for the post of education and science minister. The Progressives have nominated Defense Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Atis Svinka for the defense minister.