The candidate for the post of the Prime Minister who is invited by the President invites ministers to form the Government. When the candidate for the post of the Prime Minister submits to the Saeima the list of government ministers and the proposed government activity plan and receives confidence vote by the Saeima, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers start to fulfil their functions and exercise authority.

Functions and responsibilities of the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister manages the work of the Cabinet of Ministers and determines the major political guidelines thereof, as well as ensures that the Declaration of the Intended Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Action Plan for its implementation are developed and implemented. The Prime Minister leads the work of the Cabinet of Ministers and is responsible before the Saeima. The Prime Minister chairs Cabinet sittings and meetings of the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister appoints:

  • ministers (after confidence vote by the Saeima);

  • Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister's Office and advisers to the Prime Minister.

If it is required for fulfilment of a specific task, the Prime Minister may issue an order to set up temporary consultative councils or working groups (indicating their composition, issues to be considered, activities and responsibilities), which within the scope of their competence present opinion and proposals to the Prime Minister or the Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister may, by order, establish a thematic committee of the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure systematic and planned work in a specific area, as well as to coordinate and solve various cross-sectoral issues. In addition to direct responsibilities the Prime Minister may permanently lead the work of one ministry.

The post of the Prime Minister can never be combined by other paid work in a state or municipal service, except for the post of Saeima Deputy or in academic staff of educational establishments. The Prime Minister may not be in any post or work in private companies or institutions funded from the state budget or benefiting from the public sector. The Prime Minister is not allowed to win a public procurement contract or gain concessions.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the Society Integration Foundation and the Constitution Protection Bureau are under the institutional supervision of the Prime Minister.

In case of resignation the Prime Minister informs about the fact the President and the Saeima Chairperson, who shall put the resignation announcement on the agenda of the nearest Saeima plenary meeting. The Prime Minister, who has resigned from office either with or without an expression of non-confidence from the Saeima, shall continue to fulfil his/her duties of office, except for cases when the Saeima has decided otherwise and has appointed a person to temporarily assume this office, until a successor is appointed.

Prime Minister has the right to request resignation of a minister (including Deputy Prime Minister and state ministers). If the Prime Minister requests resignation of a minister or state minister, the minister has to resign even if he/she has not received a non-confidence vote by the Saeima.

If one or several ministers resign, the Prime Minister himself/herself may temporarily take over their responsibilities or assign them to other ministers. The Prime Minister shall invite other persons to replace the resigned ministers, and inform the Cabinet, the President and Saeima Chairperson about the changes. The invited persons shall take the office of a minister only after receiving a confidence vote by the Saeima.

If the Prime Minister loses the confidence by the Saeima, he/she must resign together with other members of the Cabinet of Ministers.