Latvia’s next prime minister might be an American-born politician, rather than the first Green leader in Eastern Europe.

The conservative political party Jaunais laiks (New Era), which controls 26 of the 100 seats in parliament, now says it wants to offer Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš as the next prime ministerial candidate, according to media reports. Kariņš was born in 1964 in Delaware.

Jaunais laiks apparently is trying to position itself to form the nation’s new government in case the parliament fails to approve a government led by Indulis Emsis, a member of the Zaļo un zemnieku savienība (Union of Greens and Farmers).

If approved by parliament, Emsis would be the first Green prime minister in Eastern Europe, a fact that’s been noted by a number of foreign media. But the chances of Emsis having the support of at least 51 deputies seem slim.

President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga invited Emsis to form the new government after the government of current Prime Minister Einars Repše, who also is leader of Jaunais laiks, resigned Feb. 5.

Emsis is expected to take his proposed government to parliament next week.

Jaunais laiks and another conservative party, Tēvzemei un Brīvibai/LNNK, both have said they won’t support an Emsis-led coalition government. Jaunais laiks, in particular, had insisted that the new government should be formed by Repše, but Vīķe-Freiberga said that he already had had 15 months in which to lead the country. The president continues to back Emsis.

Meanwhile, in an effort to resolve what some observers are calling a government crisis, the conservative Tautas partija (People’s Party) has invited Jaunais laiks to heart-to-heart discussions March 8.

One result could be an agreement between the two parties, which together control 46 seats in parliament, to support Kariņš. However, the Tautas partija has said it would support an Emsis-led government.

Kariņš holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, but in Latvia became known for starting the company Lāču ledus, an ice company. He also served from 1999-2000 as president of limited liability company Formula. A member of parliament, Kariņš heads the Jaunais laiks caucus and is a member of the party’s board of directors.

Sergejs Žoltoks, a Latvia-born center for the Minnesota Wild hockey team, has been traded to the Nashville Predators along with another player, the team announced March 5.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based Wild traded the 31-year-old Žoltoks and defenseman Brad Bombardir in return for third and fourth round National Hockey League draft picks.

It’s possible Žoltoks could return to the Minnesota after he turns free agent on July 1, according to the Star Tribune newspaper of Minneapolis, Minn. The paper noted that in trading Žoltoks the Wild loses its “most offensively gifted pivot.” The center played in 210 games for the Wild.

Even if Žoltoks doesn’t return to Minnesota, the team may still get another Latvian. Armands Bērziņš, a 20-year-old center from Rīga, is training in Texas with the Houston Aeros junior team. The Aeros are the Wild’s development affiliate.

Seven individuals and a chamber ensemble have been singled out for their contributions to Latvian music and have been named the recipients of the 2003 Grand Music Award (Lielā mūzikas balva), the nation’s highest award for musical achievement.

Winners of the 2003 award, which will be presented March 4 in a ceremony in Rīga, are:

• The chamber ensemble Altera Veritas for its interpretations of contemporary Latvian music. Formed in 2000, the ensemble includes accordeon player Aldis Jurisons, flautist Andis Klučnieks, and kokle players Ieva Lapiņa and Anda Zaborovska.
• Aleksandrs Antoņenko, a soloist with the Latvian National Opera, for his performances in five operas, including Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème,” Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Aleko,” Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem” and Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman.”
• Organist Iveta Apkalna for her concerts in Latvia and abroad. Her first album, simply titled Live, was released during 2003 by the German label Hera. Apkalna’s second album, Touch Down in Riga, is expected to be released in May by the German label Querstand.
• Choir director Terēze Broka, for lifetime achievement. Broka was born in 1925 and is a music teacher, directs the folk choir Latgale from the Daugavpils region and has directed choirs during national song festivals. In 2000, she also was awarded the Order of Three Stars, Latvia’s highest civilian honor.
• Latvian National Opera ballet soloist Margarita Demjanoka for her roles in Juris Karlsons’s “Sidraba šķidrauts” (The Silver Veil), Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird.”
• Composer Rihards Dubra for his “Te Deum,” performed during the 23rd Latvian Song Festival’s concert of spiritual music.
• Musicologist Zane Gailīte for her research and publication of Par Rīgas mūziku un kumēdiņu spēli.
• Choir director Māris Sirmais for programs in 2003, including during the 6th International Festival of Spiritual Music, the 23rd Latvian Song Festival’s concert of spiritual music and several concerts by the choir Kamēr.

The Grand Music Award was created in 1993 on the initiative of composer Raimonds Pauls, who at the time was Latvia’s minister of culture. Award winners are determined by a jury that attends concerts throughout the year and meets regularly to discuss what members are hearing.