RIGA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Latvian lawmakers on Thursday approved Janis Vitenburgs, an MP of the ruling KPV LV party, as the Baltic country's new economy minister.
In the parliament, Vitenburgs chaired the economic, agricultural, environmental and regional policy committee. His appointment as economy minister was supported by 69 MPs, while six voted against and two abstained.
KPV LV party named Vitenburgs for the ministerial position after Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins asked former economy minister Ralfs Nemiro to resign because the Constitution Protection Bureau had stripped Nemiro of his security clearance necessary to access state secrets. Nemiro stepped down on March 16.
Vitenbergs said that as Latvia's new economy minister he intends to continue the work started by fellow party member Nemiro.
