Rinkēvičs asks Kulbergs to form Latvia’s government — LSM English

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs announced that incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs will begin negotiations on forming a new Cabinet of Ministers. Kulbergs’ United List (AS) party won 41 seats in the elections to the 15th Saeima.

The president announced this after a meeting with Kulbergs on October 6, LSM English reports. Rinkēvičs said he had held consultations with all political forces that entered the new parliament and concluded that most of them were ready to discuss forming a government with United List and Kulbergs.

Coalition negotiations

According to the president, Kulbergs, as a candidate for head of government, must hold talks with the forces elected to the Saeima on the composition of the coalition, the distribution of responsibilities, and the tasks of the future government. The result of these consultations should be a draft government declaration.

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The president will be able to officially nominate a candidate for prime minister only after the first sitting of the newly elected Saeima and the resignation of the incumbent government. The first parliamentary sitting is scheduled for November 3. Rinkēvičs’ current statement is political rather than legal in nature.

Possible composition of the majority

The leadership of United List had previously stated that it would first hold talks with its current coalition partners — the National Alliance and New Unity. The National Alliance won 10 seats, while New Unity won seven; together, such a coalition would have 58 votes in the Saeima.

Kulbergs also said that he does not want to cooperate with the Latvia First party, which came second in the elections with 17 seats. Experts consider a coalition of United List, the National Alliance, and New Unity the most realistic scenario, although other models are also possible.