Kulbergs Says National Alliance Was Well Prepared for Government Talks

Andris Kulbergs, the prime minister candidate of Latvia's next government and a member of the United List (AS), told journalists on Monday, 9 November, that the National Alliance (NA) had come to government-formation talks sufficiently well prepared. The assessment matters because, after the elections to the 15th Saeima, the parliament, it is still unclear what coalition will be formed.

According to Kulbergs, the NA brought many proposals on the economy and pointed to priorities that could be reviewed, as well as issues it believes should not be reopened. He had earlier criticised New Unity (JV) and the Progressives for insufficient preparation, saying he wanted to hear more specific proposals from them on cutting budget spending.

Public finances at the centre

Kulbergs said the AS presented the NA with its view of the changes needed and the fiscal challenges through 2030. He stressed that new political promises cannot be delivered unless the financial situation is put in order. The central question of the talks, he said, is which parties are ready to share responsibility for unpopular but necessary decisions. He noted that Latvia is no longer in a position to distribute growing budget revenues, and that the public will have to be told openly which promises have no financial cover.

What comes next

After the second round of talks, the AS will assess possible cooperation models. The third round will most likely take place after the national holidays. Kulbergs has so far not set out the AS offer or planned savings in detail; such information is to come in his presentation at the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday at 12:30. He promised more details on the formation of the government later this week.

President Edgars Rinkēvičs tasked Kulbergs with forming the new government after the 15th Saeima convened. Scenarios mentioned include AS cooperating with JV and NA, an AS–NA government, or an AS minority government.