Šlesers rules out coalition with New Unity, Progressives and Sovereign Power

Ainārs Šlesers, leader of the "Latvia First" (LPV) party and its candidate for prime minister, said on the podcast "Politiķi, kas tas vispār bija?!" that his party will not enter a coalition after the upcoming elections with three political forces: New Unity, the Progressives, and Sovereign Power.

Šlesers explained that LPV had already publicly named its cooperation "red lines" — parties with which any collaboration is off the table. As for other political forces not on that list, he said the decision on possible cooperation would depend on the election results and how a potential majority coalition takes shape.

Aim: replacing the government

The LPV leader again stressed that the party's main goal is to bring about a change of government rather than end up in opposition after the elections. Šlesers said he believes voters have given the party a mandate specifically to achieve a change of power.

Cooperation with Stepaņenko's force ruled out

At the same time, the politician rejected the possibility of cooperating with the political force led by Jūlija Stepaņenko. Šlesers said LPV's and that force's paths diverged after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, when disagreements arose between the two sides over condemning the war.