Rinkēvičs: Government can be formed by Latvia's Independence Day
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs says a new government can still be formed by the November 18 national holiday. He hopes coalition talks will begin next week.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs believes a new government can be formed by the national holiday following the elections to the 15th Saeima, the country's parliament. He made the remarks on Latvian Television's morning programme "Rīta panorāma" when asked about the pace of government formation. Official coalition talks did not begin this week.
Rinkēvičs recalled that, in his ideal world, the government would be in place by the national holiday and the budget adopted before Christmas. He said that scenario still stands, though he conceded his ideal world may differ from the real one.
Why talks were delayed
The president said there were objective and well-founded reasons why negotiations did not start this week. In his view the situation is unique: one political force holds 41 seats, and there is broad public demand for a different kind of politics, so the solutions are not ordinary either. He hopes talks will begin next week and called the goal very feasible and achievable. He added that he would act if necessary, but currently sees neither the need nor the desire to speculate about matters that can be resolved through a normal political process.
Kulbergs' plans
Rinkēvičs has entrusted the government-formation process to Andris Kulbergs of the United List (AS), which won 41 seats and became the largest force in parliament. According to the news agency LETA, Kulbergs plans to meet all 41 AS deputies early next week to discuss his plan for change and the formation process. He has said it is important to secure the understanding, support and involvement of his own group's deputies before opening official talks with other parties. The plan is practically ready, he said.
After meeting the faction, Kulbergs intends to start talks with potential coalition partners, the National Alliance (NA) and New Unity (JV). The National Alliance will have ten seats in the new Saeima and New Unity seven.
Also elected are Latvia First (LPV) with 17 seats, Sovereign Power/Alliance of Young Latvians (SV/AJ) with 15, and the Progressives with ten.
