Kulbergs agrees with National Alliance on joining new government
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says his party Apvienotais saraksts (United List) and the National Alliance have agreed to cooperate in forming a new government and have divided areas of responsibility. The National Alliance is to nominate candidates for three ministerial posts on Monday.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List (Apvienotais saraksts) told the news agency LETA on 15 November that his party and the National Alliance have reached an agreement on cooperating to form a new government. The parties have already divided areas of responsibility, while talks on the tasks ahead and the terms of cooperation continue so that documents can be prepared for signing.
The National Alliance has been asked to nominate candidates on Monday for three ministerial posts: interior, welfare and culture. The prime minister has invited Defence Minister Raivis Melnis to stay on in the next government. Information on the remaining ministerial candidates is to follow shortly.
Priorities and reasoning
Kulbergs said that in choosing partners he weighed the government's ability to make decisions dynamically and in unison, as well as the partners' determination to carry out difficult changes. He called cooperation with the National Alliance logical, citing long-standing collaboration and similar positions.
He named national security, order in public finances, economic growth and efficient public administration as the priorities of the incoming government. The premier described the budget situation as critical and warned that, if nothing is done, Latvia could by 2030 be unable to secure the funds needed for defence. He stressed that the country must not again land in a position where international financial assistance sharply limits its choices.
Stance toward other parties
Kulbergs voiced doubt that the parties that shaped the existing system are ready to change it fundamentally, naming New Unity first among them. In his view, this can be judged soon in Saeima votes.
According to the prime minister, a coalition of the United List and the National Alliance can make decisions quickly and in unison, but its slim majority in the Saeima will demand strict discipline among coalition factions and cooperation with deputies from other factions. Kulbergs plans to meet opposition parties regularly, preferably monthly, and to entrust the opposition with posts in Saeima committees.
