Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List (AS) will meet MPs elected to the next Saeima from his political alliance at an undisclosed location to discuss his proposed reform plan and the process of forming a new government, the prime minister’s communications adviser Elīna Šverna has announced.
The prime minister’s official schedule, released last Friday, initially listed the Saeima as the venue for the meeting. However, Šverna clarified this morning that the gathering would instead take place “outside Riga”. She declined to reveal the exact location.
Kulbergs has emphasised that before beginning formal negotiations with other political parties, he considers it essential to secure the understanding, support and involvement of MPs from his own political alliance.
The prime minister has indicated that his proposed reform plan is virtually complete and will soon be presented to the entire United List parliamentary group.
Following the meeting with AS MPs, Kulbergs intends to begin negotiations with potential coalition partners.
The current schedule предусматривает meetings between the United List, the National Alliance (NA) and New Unity (JV) on 28 October.
Kulbergs has stated that the government formation process will begin by establishing agreement on the principles of cooperation, the reforms to be implemented and responsibility for achieving the intended results.
The negotiations are expected to address decision-making procedures, mechanisms for resolving disagreements, the regular publication of government performance results, and dialogue with the public and social partners.
The prime minister explained that his reform plan covers not only potential changes to government operations and the structure of ministries but also measures to strengthen fiscal discipline, reduce bureaucracy and public expenditure, and stimulate economic growth.
He stressed that some of the proposed reforms would require legislative amendments, making parliamentary support particularly important.
At the same time, Kulbergs has indicated that no potential government arrangement is currently being ruled out, including the possibility of forming a minority government.
As previously reported, following the elections to the 15th Saeima, President Edgars Rinkēvičs entrusted Kulbergs, a representative of the United List, with leading the formation of the next government.
The United List won 41 parliamentary seats, becoming the largest political force in the new Saeima.
The National Alliance secured ten seats, while New Unity won seven.
Other parties represented in the new parliament will include Latvia First (LPV) with 17 seats, Sovereign Power/Young Latvians Alliance (SV/AJ) with 15 seats, and the Progressives with ten seats.