Riga  - Latvia's European Union Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, has ruled out any ambitions to become the embattled Baltic state's prime minister when his current term in Brussels expires.

Speaking to the Latvijas Avize daily newspaper, Piebalgs said that as a non-partisan prime minister he would lack electoral and political authority.

"I think this is absolutely out of question at the moment, because then it would be necessary to go and win elections," he said.

"This scenario could only work in the event of total collapse, when the president decides to dissolve parliament. But this is not a good scenario for the state," he added.

Piebalgs was officially approached about the prime minister's position after the resignation of Ivars Godmanis in February this year, but declined to enter a race eventually won by Valdis Dombrovskis who has spent most of his premiership fighting to rescue Latvia from the EU's deepest recession.

Piebalgs refused to confirm whether he would seek a second term as an EU commissioner when his mandate runs out at the end of the year, but said he would make his intentions clear within the next two weeks.

"It would be relatively easy to quit at this stage. But it is quite difficult to start afresh with a second mandate," Piebalgs said in non-committal fashion.

A host of potential candidates including current Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and New Era party leader Solvita Aboltina have signalled their eagerness to take over from Piebalgs if he decides not to seek a second five-year term as a commissioner. (dpa)