RIGA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Politicians of Latvia's five-party government coalition are set to start talks on potential candidates for the new head of the Baltic country's central bank next week and hope to reach an agreement on a candidate by the end of November.
Raivis Dzintars, leader of the ruling right-wing National Alliance, said on public radio on Thursday: "The first discussion on this matter will likely take place at the coalition's meeting next Monday. We will share our impressions after our formal or informal meetings with the potential candidates. The goal is to work out a roadmap for reaching an agreement on one candidate."
He also voiced hope that coalition partners will manage to come to an agreement within the next month.
This week, the National Alliance met with three potential nominees for Bank of Latvia governor: Martins Kazaks, a member of the Bank of Latvia Council; Sanita Bajare, former state secretary of the Ministry of Finance and former manager of the Department of Business Services at Citadele Bank; and Inna Steinbuka, a member of the Fiscal Discipline Council.
Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said he has instructed the coalition partners to meet with potential candidates for the central bank's head and that several parties have already been meeting with possible nominees.
The prime minister also said that each of the publicly mentioned candidates could potentially become the next Bank of Latvia governor as they are all very "good and competent" professionals. He stressed, however, that it is essential to pick someone with an impeccable reputation.
Current Bank of Latvia Governor Ilmars Rimsevics' term in office ends on Dec. 21, and politicians have started informal talks to choose his successor.
