Lato Lapsa: Formation of Latvia's New Government Is Unusually Quiet

Government formation in Latvia after the Saeima (parliament) elections has so far been unusually quiet, with relatively little public information about possible coalition models or talks between parties. Commentator Lato Lapsa said on the TV24 programme "Ziņu TOP" that he cannot recall such a situation since Latvia restored its independence.

Two explanations

Lapsa suggested this might be a unique case in which a government is being formed without leaks. In his view, one possible explanation is that Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has kept very tight control over the deputies of his political force and ensured that information about the talks stays inside the party.

The commentator noted that the United List ("Apvienotais saraksts") won 41 seats in the new Saeima. In his view, so large a faction inevitably contains differing interests and opinions. Ironically, he asked whether Kulbergs is a unique manager who has kept such a group together, or whether he has imposed a "mafia oath of silence".

Lapsa's second explanation is much simpler: active talks on the specific make-up of the next government may not yet be taking place at all.

Warning about New Unity

Lapsa questioned an option in which, after the Union of Greens and Farmers dropped out of parliament, a similar political model would effectively be preserved by bringing in New Unity ("Jaunā Vienotība"). He said he believes Kulbergs is not so unwise as to miss that, if "Unity" joined the government, the United List would be "eaten up and split" within a couple of years. Ironically, the commentator added that the balance of power in the Saeima could also change over time, and that the "Unity" faction might grow from seven deputies to seventeen.

Lapsa stressed that this is his own political assessment of possible coalition dynamics. In his view, Kulbergs is well aware of these risks. Whether the prime minister will act in a self-destructive way remains to be seen, the commentator concluded.