Latvian PM Kulbergs to name coalition partners this week, ministers next week

Latvia's prime minister, Andris Kulbergs, said the parties that will form the next government could be named this week and candidates for ministers next week. He was speaking on TV3's “900 sekundes” programme on the morning of Wednesday 11 November, the LETA news agency reported. Kulbergs, of the United List, is leading the talks on a new government.

He said he hoped agreement on partners and on a model of co-operation could be reached this week. But before any announcement the parties must reach agreement and the documents must be ready for signing, he stressed.

No direct answer on New Unity and the Progressives

Asked whether New Unity and the Progressives would be in the government, Kulbergs gave no direct answer and repeated that the partners would be named this week.

He denied that a deal on a government had already been reached with Latvia First (LPV). He said he and its leader, Ainārs Šlesers, agreed that state spending had to be reviewed and public finances put in order, but that did not amount to an agreement on a joint government. Earlier on the same programme Šlesers said he was ready to support a Kulbergs government if it did not include New Unity and the Progressives. Kulbergs stressed that he was not responsible for Šlesers' remarks.

Talks continue with the National Alliance

So far the United List and the National Alliance have stood out for how closely their views match. In the second round of talks on Monday, Kulbergs' longest meeting was with the National Alliance, which he praised for being well prepared. The party's chair, Ilze Indriksone, said the two parties shared a long-term vision.

On Tuesday evening LTV, the Latvian public television channel, reported that active talks were continuing only with the National Alliance, and that the Progressives and New Unity had not been invited to the next round — the leaders of both parties confirmed this. The talks with the National Alliance also cover how to build guarantees into the co-operation model so that the party cannot be outvoted on issues of principle with opposition votes. According to LTV, the National Alliance wants to run one of the economic ministries and the Ministry of Culture, and it is quite likely that Jānis Dombrava of the National Alliance could stay on as interior minister.

When a vote could happen

Talks could intensify over the weekend, once Kulbergs is back from the European Council meeting in Dublin. If the disputed issues are resolved, the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, could vote on the new government next Tuesday, 17 November, LTV reported. No date for the vote has been officially set. Kulbergs and President Edgars Rinkēvičs have said they hope the shape of the government will be known by the national holiday on 18 November.

In the 15th Saeima, the United List holds 41 of the 100 seats, Latvia First 17, Sovereign Power/Jaunlatvieši Union 15, the National Alliance and the Progressives 10 each, and New Unity 7. Together with the National Alliance, the United List would have the narrowest possible majority of 51 votes.