During the debate, it was discovered that several provisions in the law were at odds with Latvia's international obligations and would not be sufficiently protective of the rights of national minorities. LW supported the law, in what political observers concluded was an attempt by the party to ensure its inclusion in a new government coalition. Latvia's Human Rights Office and several Russian nongovernmental organizations worried aloud that the law would impose hardships on Latvia's Russian speakers and recommended that the president return the law to parliament for reconsideration. National and radical Latvian organizations, by contrast, clamored that she sign it. In the end, Vike-Freiberga returned the law to parliament unsigned, pointing out its contraventions of international agreements as well as the Constitution.
Parliament is scheduled to review the law before the end of the year.
PP offered its party leader, Andris Skele, as prime minister. Skele had been prime minister twice before and was the one candidate on whom all three parties could agree. The new government has fewer cabinet members than its predecessor. PP is represented in the new government by Minister of Finance Edmunds Krastins, Minister of Interior Mareks Seglins, Minister of Education and Science Silva Golde, and Minister of Agriculture Aigars Kalvitis. Prime Minister Skele proved ready to take unpopular measures to put Latvia on a firmer financial footing, moving quickly to reduce the budget deficit.