Saeima confirms Svinka as Transport Minister

RIGA - The Saeima today confirmed the current lawmaker from the Progressives party, Atis Svinka, as the Transport Minister.

The decision was made with 52 votes to 41.

Svinka, born in 1973, holds a Bachelor's degree in Management and Social Sciences from the University of Latvia. At the age of 20, Svinka was appointed Executive Director of Junior Achievement Latvia and in the late 1990s, together with his team, introduced economics in schools and led several projects, such as the Job Shadow Day.

He has been the CEO of several companies. He still owns shares in several companies, including Ammolite, LIC, Mush and LIC GOTUS.

Svinka ran as a candidate for the 14th Saeima elections in 2022 as the leader of the Progressives for the Zemgale constituency and was elected. He is a board member in the party.

In the Saeima, he serves on the defense, internal affairs and corruption prevention committee, as well as on the National Security Committee, which means that he has the highest level of state secrets clearance to also serve as a minister. Svinka was also previously Parliamentary Secretary in the Defense Ministry.

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.