Incoming European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has asked Latvia to choose a new candidate for the commission to replace Ingrida Udre, a government official in Riga told AFP Tuesday.

Barroso sent an official letter to the Latvian government requesting a new candidate, said Ilona Lica, a spokeswoman for the prime minister's office.

"Mr Barroso in his letter to the Latvian prime minister asked to consider the possibility to propose another candidate," she said.

Latvia's Udre, commissioner-designate for tax and customs policy, is among four or five nominees with questions marks over them, either because of alleged conflicts of interest or failure to impress EU lawmakers.

The Latvian government was expected Tuesday to discuss the issue and choose a replacement.

A divorced mother-of-two, Udre is a relative newcomer to politics, entering the Latvian parliament only two years ago. She was criticised for taking long trips accompanied by her stylist during her stint as parliamentary speaker.

Latvia, a small Baltic former Soviet state, joined the European Union in May.

Facing a threat by Socialist and Liberal members of the European Parliament to veto the entire commission because of their objections to controversial Italian nominee Rocco Buttiglione, president-elect Barroso withdrew all his picks last week.

Buttiglione said Saturday he was stepping down as candidate for the post of commissioner for justice following a two-week dispute over his conservative views on homosexuality and the role of women.