Kulbergs: National Alliance came better prepared for talks with AS than New Unity and Progressives
Prime minister candidate Kulbergs said that, after talks with three parties, only the National Alliance had come prepared to discuss budget savings. The makeup of the coalition remains unclear.
Kulbergs, the candidate for prime minister, met representatives of the National Alliance (NA), New Unity (JV) and the Progressives today to discuss possible cooperation in forming Latvia's next government after the 15th Saeima election. According to him, 600 million euros must be saved in next year's budget, but JV and the Progressives had not presented their own vision for cutting spending. Kulbergs' party, referred to as AS, has been seeking partners for the future coalition.
Assessment of NA
Following the meeting with NA, Kulbergs said he had told colleagues that "harsh decisions" were needed to put state finances in order, and that the sides agreed on many issues. In his view, NA had prepared well for the conversation, bringing several proposals to boost the economy and naming issues it does not want to revisit.
NA leader Ilze Indriksone said the discussion on core principles and goals of cooperation was important. She said she understood that decisions must be made quickly so that the country can "get out of the hole". She named demography as one of NA's key topics, saying support for it must continue even in bad times. Indriksone described the meeting as productive and focused on cooperation.
What comes next
The composition of the coalition is not yet known. AS still has to discuss the talks internally, and the other parties must go over the issues in their factions or boards. Kulbergs stressed that the main question is the cooperation model: how to take decisions jointly and explain them to the public. He said it is not an easy road and that AS might issue a statement this week. Asked how many partners the coalition might have, he replied: "One or two, or three, or none."
Kulbergs began talks with partners almost a month after the election results were announced in early October. In late October he met the factions of NA, JV, the Progressives and Latvia First (LPV), but no coalition outline emerged. LPV was not invited to today's talks. Kulbergs hopes to form the new Cabinet of Ministers by the national holiday.
