The prospective government currently being formed by Prime Minister-designate Andris Kulbergs (United List) intends to base its work on dialogue rather than formally documented rules, Māris Kučinskis, head of the United List (AS) parliamentary group, said in an interview with TV3’s 900 sekundes programme.
This approach explains why the new Cabinet does not plan to sign a traditional coalition agreement when it takes office, instead presenting a reform plan.
Discussing Kulbergs’ recent meetings with representatives of the parliamentary groups elected to the Saeima, Kučinskis described these politicians as potential partners and supporters.
Asked whether his distinction between partners and supporters deliberately referred to different models of cooperation, Kučinskis replied that, for the time being, it was mainly possible to speak of supporters.
The MP pointed out that clear rules governing coalition cooperation are usually demanded not by those forming the government, but by the parties invited to participate in its formation.
Given the United List’s large number of seats in Parliament, the situation is somewhat different this time.
“For now, we are talking about an agreement on a list of tasks, rather than on relationships or who will submit how many proposals and when. We will try to manage through dialogue rather than formally documented rules,” the head of the United List parliamentary group said.
Kučinskis expressed confidence that the United List parliamentary group would work towards a common and clearly defined goal.
However, he stressed that the proposed deadline for forming the government – Latvia’s Independence Day on the 18th of November – was not an end in itself, as it was more important to establish a well-considered Cabinet.
“If it is possible and everything proceeds very, very smoothly, then the government could be formed by the national holiday.
But it will not be a problem if the government is formed one or two weeks later,” Kučinskis said.
As previously reported, President Edgars Rinkēvičs has tasked United List representative and incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs with forming the new government.
The United List won 41 seats in the parliamentary elections, becoming the largest political force in the newly elected Saeima.
Other parties represented in Parliament include Latvia First (LPV) with 17 seats, the Sovereign Power/Young Latvians Alliance (SV/AJ) with 15 seats, the Progressives with ten seats, the National Alliance with ten seats, and New Unity (JV) with seven seats.