Shuvajevs: Next coalition must be as broad as possible and independent of Slesers' votes
Andris Shuvajevs, head of the Progressives' parliamentary group, said after talks with Prime Minister-designate Andris Kulbergs that the new coalition should be as broad as possible and not depend on Ainars Slesers' votes. Kulbergs invited three parties to talks on Monday.
The next Latvian government coalition should be as broad as possible, with no hint of dependence on the votes of Ainars Slesers' party LPV, Andris Shuvajevs, head of the Progressives' group in the Saeima, told journalists on Monday, 9 November, after government-formation talks. The talks were led by Andris Kulbergs of the United List (AS), whom the president has tasked with forming the new government.
Shuvajevs said the Progressives stated this position during the meeting and will keep stressing it. Asked whether they received a reply, he told reporters to put the question to AS, adding that his party had flagged it as important to them.
According to Shuvajevs, Kulbergs was asked whether the Progressives' participation in the Cabinet is still being seriously considered, and the answer was yes. He stressed that both the party and the public expect clarity on the next steps.
Spending, the green course and forests
On spending cuts discussed at the meeting, Shuvajevs said he was convinced that public procurement can deliver the same results at lower cost. In his view, cuts of 5% or 10% could be discussed, but the key question is whether the parliamentary groups can secure the political backing for such decisions.
On the green course, the Progressives said Latvia must keep fulfilling its commitments, while solutions must be fair. Shuvajevs named forest policy as one of the most important issues, arguing that the current way it is carried out worsens the budget situation and does not match the country's climate goals. He disagreed with Kulbergs' view that the Progressives approach these issues too categorically.
How government formation is going
On Monday Kulbergs invited the Progressives, New Unity and the National Alliance to talks. He wants to discuss changes to boost economic growth, save budget funds and make the government work more efficiently. Kulbergs hopes to present a model of the new Cabinet by mid-November.
The scenarios mentioned are AS cooperating with New Unity and the National Alliance, a government of AS and the National Alliance, or an AS minority government, which is widely expected to be backed by Latvia First.
