Kulbergs Postpones Government Formation Talks Due to Leave Abroad

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List (AS) will be on leave from 21 to 23 October and will stay outside the country, so previously scheduled meetings, including consultations on forming a new government, will not take place. The process, entrusted to him after the 15th Saeima (parliament) election, will therefore pause briefly.

The State Chancellery told the news agency LETA that Edgars Tavars, Minister for Smart Administration and Regional Development, will carry out the prime minister's duties in the meantime.

The premier's explanation

Following a coalition cooperation meeting, Kulbergs told journalists that urgent personal matters require him to be abroad, so he asked for the talks to be postponed. He thanked colleagues for their understanding and said the issue would be revisited next week. On Facebook on Monday, the politician shared news that his "American dad" had died, the man with whom Kulbergs lived in the United States as a teenager and who taught him many life lessons.

Plan and next steps

Kulbergs stressed that work on a possible government declaration and a change plan will continue after his return. The plan covers not only the organisation of the government's work and the structure of ministries, but also strengthening fiscal discipline, reducing bureaucracy and state spending, and promoting economic growth.

Before resuming formal coalition talks, the prime minister wants to discuss the ideas with all AS deputies, and then meet potential government partners and the other Saeima factions. He added that no possible government model is ruled out, including a minority government.

AS won the election, and after consultations with the political forces elected to parliament, President Edgars Rinkēvičs tasked Kulbergs with forming the new government.