Failure of three experienced organisations to compose a new government would be humiliating, said National Alliance’s leader Raivis Dzintars in an interview to TV3 programme 900 seconds.
NA took part in last week’s round of «quiet diplomacy». This run of negotiations was different when compared to regular negotiations because it was not very formal, said Dzintars, adding that at official meetings every word spoken can leave an impact on the negotiation process, which often puts partners on edge and abstract in their statements, «which is something listeners and observers are sick of at this point».
This is why the quiet diplomacy was an attempt to reach the points that prevent the coalition from moving forward.
Dzintars said that during the current and previous government’s formation process there were tangible fears the newly-elected Saeima would be dissolved due to reaching a dead end in negotiations. «It would be humiliating if experienced organisations with 54 votes in the parliament turn out unable to agree on the government’s composition,» said the politician.
Dzintars said last week there was some progress made – the three partners agreed on certain conflicting points.
NA discussed, among other topics, New Unity (JV) leader Krišjānis Kariņš’s offer on the distribution of seats in the government. «We are doing all we can to make it [government declaration] happen. Although the declaration has yet to be put on paper formally, NA is 100% prepared,» said the politician.
He stressed that partners have to look for compromises, give way in some areas. Dzintars said he is cautious about future forecasts if Kariņš decided to cease the government formation process.
«He has implied that if he or his programme lack majority support, he may go to the president and tell him he cannot form the government. If he [Kariņš] made this decision, we would have to deal with a new problem, which would be difficult to do. President Egils Levits has yet to nominate Kariņš as the official in charge of the government formation process. This means the president’s involvement in the government formation process is larger than usual,» said the NA politician.
Politicians Edgars Tavars from the Combined List (AS) political party told TV3 programme 900 seconds that last week’s coalition negotiations were productive.
He confirmed that negotiations happened. At the same time, Tavars refrained from providing more comments on the topic. Comments may come around the next meeting between President Egils Levits and JV leader Krišjānis Kariņš on Monday, 14 November.
Tavars said his party is «rather optimistic».