Latvia's president opens coalition talks after record United List win
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs began talks Monday on a new government after Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List won the most seats ever by one party. Kulbergs says growing the economy comes first. His likely coalition would hold 58 of 100 seats.
Latvia is moving fast toward a new government. President Edgars Rinkēvičs met Monday with all six parties elected to parliament, two days after the Oct. 3 vote. He met first with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, whose United List won by a wide margin, the German news agency dpa reported.
The win was historic. United List took about 35% of the vote and 41 seats, provisional results from Latvia's Central Election Commission show. That is the most seats any single party has won in a Latvian parliament. The old record was 36 seats, set in 1993.
Kulbergs still needs a partner to reach a majority in the 100-seat Saeima. LSM said the most likely coalition pairs United List with the National Alliance, with 10 seats, and New Unity, with seven. Together they would hold 58 seats.
Kulbergs has ruled one party out. He told Latvian TV he will not form a coalition with Latvia First, the news site BB.LV reported. Latvia First won 17 seats, according to LSM.
His message is "first the economy." Kulbergs said spending must come down, but cuts alone are not enough. "Both are needed," he said. He wants to keep his plan to reduce the number of ministries, but only where it helps growth. He also wants his party to keep the Finance Ministry.
United List minister Tavars told the news site Inbox.lv the party may also seek the Foreign Ministry, now run by New Unity. He said talks on who gets which ministry are just beginning.
Some background: Kulbergs has been prime minister only since May. He leads a four-party coalition of conservatives and centrists. All four back the EU, NATO and Ukraine, dpa reported. One of those partners, the Union of Greens and Farmers, failed to win seats this time.
Big tests await. LSM pointed to the future of the national airline, airBaltic, and the Rail Baltica rail project as issues that could strain a new coalition. The next scheduled election is in 2030.
The president usually gives a nominee about a week to put a government together. The Saeima must then approve it by majority vote.
What we know: United List won big and is talking with its current partners.
What we don't: The final seat count and who gets which ministry.
Where outlets agree Dpa and LSM both report that United List won by far the most seats and that Kulbergs needs at least one partner to govern.
Where they differ Dpa and the election commission put United List at 41 seats, while LSM and Inbox.lv first counted 42 from early results.