Minister reappointed in political role

In a move aimed at addressing recent concerns over technical issues during the municipal elections, Prime Minister Edvards Siliņa has recommended and the Saeima has approved Raimonds Čudars as the new Minister of Smart Technologies. The appointment took place on June 19, 2025, with 52 deputies expressing confidence in Čudars.

Raimonds Čudars, a former long-time mayor of Salaspils and an ex-minister from the New Unity party, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Prior to his ministerial role, Čudars had served in various Saeima committees, including the Requests Committee, Budget Committee, Sustainable Development Committee, and Public Administration and Local Government Committees.

The Minister of Smart Technologies will focus on digitalization, which includes improving digital systems and technology, exploring the use of artificial intelligence, and enhancing local government and regional development. A key responsibility is ensuring the technical conduct of the electoral process, a focus following recent local government elections.

In his new position, Čudars has expressed a commitment to restoring public trust in Latvia's digital systems. He plans to evaluate and rectify past mistakes, especially those encountered during recent municipal elections, and to ensure the flawless technical conduct of future elections. To achieve this, Čudars aims to strengthen the technical support for the electoral process to prevent future technical issues.

Prime Minister Siliņa praised Čudars' knowledge of municipal work and leadership skills, noting that he is not afraid of difficulties and is willing to say no when necessary. Before his political career, Čudars had no prior experience in the ministry he is now appointed to. However, his legal background, having graduated in law from the University of Latvia, will undoubtedly prove beneficial in navigating the complexities of digitalization and the electoral process.

While some, such as Edgars Tavars, the leader of the United List faction, have expressed skepticism about the impact of changing ministers, Čudars' focus on addressing the issues at hand and his demonstrated commitment to the role offer a promising start. Andris Kulbergs, a member of the United List faction, has also raised questions about the government's "4x4" plan, suggesting a review of government spending and questioning if the fault lies in the driver or the wheels.

In conclusion, the appointment of Raimonds Čudars as the Minister of Smart Technologies marks a significant step towards addressing the technical issues that arose during the recent municipal elections and towards ensuring the flawless technical conduct of future election processes. With his extensive experience in local government and regional development, along with his commitment to digitalization and the electoral process, Čudars is well-equipped to tackle these challenges and restore public trust in Latvia's digital systems.

[1] Latvijas Televīzija. (2025, June 19). Raimonds Čudars - jaunais ministri smart tehnoloģijām [Raimonds Čudars - the new minister of smart technologies]. Retrieved from https://www.lsm.lv/articles/raimonds-cudars-jaunais-ministri-smart-tehnologijam/

The newly appointed Minister of Smart Technologies, Raimonds Čudars, former long-time mayor of Salaspils and ex-minister from the New Unity party, will focus on policies related to digitalization, including improving digital systems, exploring the use of artificial intelligence, and enhancing local government and regional development, with the aim of restoring public trust in Latvia's digital systems, particularly following the technical issues encountered during the recent municipal elections.
In his new role, Minister Čudars has stated that he plans to evaluate and rectify past mistakes, strengthen the technical support for the electoral process, and ensure the flawless technical conduct of future elections, as part of his commitment to navigating the complexities of digitalization and the electoral process, despite having no prior experience in the ministry he is now appointed to.
Amid skepticism from political figures such as Edgars Tavars, the leader of the United List faction, and Andris Kulbergs, a member of the United List faction, who have raised questions about the government's "4x4" plan and the role of the minister in addressing technical issues, the appointment of Raimonds Čudars as the Minister of Smart Technologies offers a promising start, given his focus on addressing the issues at hand, his demonstrated commitment, and his extensive experience in local government and regional development.