Latvia’s parliament has confirmed two new government ministers, who are replacements necessitated by the People’s Party’s decision in March to quit the ruling coalition.

The Saeima on May 13 voted 48-24, with five abstentions, to confirm Dagnija Staķe as the new minister of regional development and local government affairs. She replaces Edgars Zalāns of the People’s Party (Tautas partija).

Staķe, 58, is a member of parliament and served as welfare minister from 2002-2007. She is a member of the Union of Greens and Farmers (Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība), which is one of the four political parties remaining in the government coalition.

After the People’s Party left the coalition, media reports suggested the regional development and local government affairs ministry might be eliminated as a cost-saving measure.

The Saeima also confirmed Didzis Gavars as the new health minister on a 49-25 vote, with 16 abstentions. Gavars, 43, replaces Baiba Rozentāle of the People’s Party. Since 1993, Gavars has been assistant director of SIA E. Gulbja Laboratorija in Rīga.

The parliament on April 29 confirmed Aivis Ronis as the new foreign minister, replacing Māris Riekstiņš of the People’s Party. Ronis, 41, has diplomatic experience including serving as Latvia’s ambassador to the United States and to the NATO defense alliance.

Still undecided is the fate of the justice minister’s portfolio. Mareks Segliņš of the People’s Party resigned from the post and the job for now is being handled by Defense Minister Imants Lieģis.

A fifth People’s Party government official, Culture Minister Ints Dālderis, announced March 19 that he would not step down.

Latvia has made it through to the qualifying round of the 2010 World Championship in ice hockey after defeating Italy 5-2 in a game played May 12 in Mannheim, Germany.

Sixteen teams are in the contest, split among four groups playing in the preliminary round, according to the officials website of the International Ice Hockey Federation. In its group, Latvia found itself up against hockey powerhouse Canada, as well as Switzerland and Italy. The top three teams in each of the four groups advance to the qualifiying round.

No. 11-ranked Latvia lost its first game May 8 against Switzerland by a score of 3-1, the Swiss exacting revenge for their 2-1 loss to Latvia during the 2009 World Championship.

Latvia also suffered in its match May 10 against Canada, falling 6-1.

The championship began May 7 and continues through to the final game May 23.

Latvia finished seventh overall in the 2009 World Championship, which took place in Switzerland. Latvia made it to the quarterfinal but lost 4-2 to Canada.

The United Kingdom’s newest ambassador to Latvia has been accredited by President Valdis Zatlers, the president’s press service announced May 11.

Ambassador Andrew Soper met with Zatlers on the same day that the U.K. was getting a new prime minister. Conservative leader David Cameron replaced the Labour Party’s Gordon Brown.

Soper, born in 1960, is a graduate of Cambridge University, where he studied economics and modern history. He has worked for the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 1985 and has served in Argentina, Mexico, Israel, the United States and Brazil. His most recent posting was as high commissioner in Mozambique.

Soper replaces Ambassador Richard Moon, who served from November 2007 until July 2009, just a month after his wife died of cancer. Moon returned to London. From last summer until Soper’s appointment the British Embassy in Rīga was led by chargé d’affaires Anthony Stokes.

In their meeting, Zatlers noted to Soper that the U.K. is one of Latvia’s most important economic partners, as well as an ally in the European Union and the NATO defense effort. The president also recognized the U.K. embassy’s participation in the Unity Kilometer event for disabled participants that will be part of the Nordea Rīga Marathon scheduled May 23.

Britain first recognized Latvia in January 1921, according to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.