Kučinskis to lead United List faction in Saeima, with Melnalksnis and Bergmanis as deputies

The largest faction in Latvia's newly elected parliament, the 15th Saeima, will be led by outgoing Finance Minister Māris Kučinskis of the United List (AS), news agency LETA has learned. His deputies will be Dāvis Melnalksnis and Raimonds Bergmanis. The vote on the faction chair and deputies will take place during the first break of the Saeima's opening session, which convenes today.

Election result and government formation

Following the parliamentary election, President Edgars Rinkēvičs tasked a United List representative, outgoing Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, with forming the government. The United List won 41 seats and became the largest political force in the new parliament.

The other parties elected to the Saeima and their seats:

• Latvia First (LPV) – 17 seats;
• Sovereign Power/Alliance of New Latvians (SV/AJ) – 15 seats;
• The Progressives – ten seats;
• National Alliance – ten seats;
• New Unity (JV) – seven seats.

Consultations on the Saeima Presidium

According to information available to LETA, consultations on the composition of the 15th Saeima's Presidium, the body that organises the parliament's work, are under way alongside the government talks. Edvards Smiltēns (AS) is being put forward for Speaker of the Saeima. Other possible Presidium members are Raimonds Vējonis (AS), Linda Liepiņa (LPV), Ināra Mūrniece (National Alliance) and Antonina Nenasheva (The Progressives). No Presidium seat is currently planned for New Unity.