Political scientist: Kulbergs' initial momentum in forming Latvia's government is fading

The process of forming a new government in Latvia has dragged on, suggesting that assembling a cabinet will not be as smooth as first expected. Political scientist and University of Latvia professor Jānis Ikstens said this on the TV24 programme "Nedēļa. Post scriptum" while assessing the prospects of prime ministerial candidate Andris Kulbergs of the AS party.

Asked whether Kulbergs' "finest hour" was beginning to fade, the expert answered with a smile that an hour is an hour precisely because it ends at some point. He added that he was sorry to see a star that shone so brightly slowly begin to dim.

Experience and group unity

Ikstens stressed that the public got to know Kulbergs best as an opposition figure in the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, rather than as someone on the governing side. Now that he is out of the comfortable opposition seat, he can no longer just criticise; he must also create something himself. In the political scientist's view, Kulbergs' political experience is quite limited, and he is in a fundamentally different situation.

The professor also noted that leading a large parliamentary group, which may look like an advantage from the outside, brings new challenges in practice. It seems to him that the AS group is not as united as it may appear, and this could be one reason the process is moving slowly.

Background

After the 15th Saeima convened, President Edgars Rinkēvičs tasked Kulbergs, an AS politician, with forming the new government. Kulbergs had earlier expressed hope of presenting a model of the new Cabinet of Ministers by mid-November.

Currently the scenarios mentioned include AS cooperating with NA and JV, a government of AS and NA, or an AS minority government that would rely mainly on support from LPV.