Kulbergs to offer short change plan and ministerial mission letters in coalition talks

Andris Kulbergs, the candidate for prime minister from the United List (AS), is set to hold his first official talks with potential coalition partners in Latvia this week and early next week. He plans to offer a short change plan and a new government work model that would define more clearly the responsibilities of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Saeima, the Latvian parliament, in carrying out national reforms.

Meeting schedule

Meetings are planned with several parties. On Wednesday, 28 October, Kulbergs will meet the National Alliance (NA) and New Unity, on Friday, 30 October, the Progressives, and on Monday, 2 November, the party Latvia First. According to him, the plan focuses on putting public finances in order, developing the economy, strengthening security and changing public administration. He also expects proposals and ideas for necessary reforms from the partners.

What the proposal includes

Kulbergs stressed that the government declaration will be short and concentrate on the most important tasks. He also wants to offer the Saeima a separate document listing reform measures to be carried out at parliamentary level, since in his view some of the necessary decisions can only be made by parliament.

Another part of the idea is ministerial mission letters, which would set specific tasks and priorities for each minister. Kulbergs said the principle is borrowed from the practice of the European Commission.

On Monday he presented the main points of the plan to AS deputies and, by his account, secured their support. Before the government is formed, he wants to build the widest possible understanding of the planned changes among coalition partners and other Saeima deputies alike.

National Alliance priorities

Ahead of the talks, the NA announced it would insist on strengthening security, promoting demographic growth and preserving Latvia's identity as a nation state. NA board chair and Minister of Education and Science Ilze Indriksone told the news agency LETA that family support and making public administration more efficient are also important priorities for the party.

Kulbergs had earlier stressed that the priority in the talks would be agreement on cooperation principles, delivery of change and accountability for results.