Andris Kulbergs, prime ministerial candidate and politician from United List (AS), stated in an interview with Latvian Radio on Tuesday that New Unity (JV) will no longer be able to maintain such a dominant role in government or behave so arrogantly.
This week, Kulbergs has begun political consultations on the formation of a new government. Initially, the politician called on all parties to set aside mutual grievances, focus only on the most urgent tasks, and attempt to form the broadest possible governing coalition. Such a coalition would have included AS, the National Alliance (NA), as well as parties from the previous government — JV, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and The Progressives. However, following the first talks with NA, cooperation with the Progressives was abandoned.
Today, both bilateral talks between AS and JV and negotiations in a four-party format organized by AS are planned. Kulbergs also promised to meet with the Progressives, from whom support votes for his potential government may still be sought.
The AS politician explained that he had taken NA’s “red lines” against the Progressives into account because AS and NA have worked closely together in opposition for a long time. At the same time, he claimed that he personally would have no objections to working together with the Progressives at least until the next elections.
Kulbergs believes he will succeed in forming a government,
even though, as he put it, “politicians’ minds are overheated.” He defended his previously outspoken public statements by arguing that, as an opposition politician, he had needed to be louder in order to be noticed, but said that as prime minister he would moderate his rhetoric. For example, in November 2025, Kulbergs posted a controversial social media comment suggesting that one of Latvia’s independence movement leaders, Dainis Īvāns, deserved “to be spat in the face.”
To strengthen public trust in the defense sector, Kulbergs said he has a solution in mind, though he declined to reveal details. He also hinted that he already has a specific candidate in mind for the position of defense minister.
Kulbergs once again emphasized his determination to begin revising the state budget. Under his leadership, austerity measures could be expected this year, though he acknowledged that it would not be possible to quickly place the state “on a path to earning growth” within such a short period of time.
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