All options remain open regarding the composition of Latvia’s next government, Andris Kulbergs, a Saeima member representing the United List (AS), said in an interview with Latvian Television’s Rīta panorāma programme. President Edgars Rinkēvičs has informally tasked Kulbergs with beginning consultations on forming a new Cabinet.
According to the politician, during the first round of talks with political parties, he highlighted the seriousness of Latvia’s financial situation and sought to establish whether the parties were prepared to abandon election promises that lacked sufficient financial backing.
Kulbergs apparently has yet to receive clear answers to these questions but hopes to obtain them during the next round of negotiations with parliamentary groups.
Asked about the potential timeframe for forming a new government, Kulbergs said he would like to be able to present a proposed Cabinet model before Latvia’s national holiday.
Kulbergs dismissed speculation that the composition of the Saeima Presidium could reflect the structure of the next governing coalition.
“As I have said before, it should not reflect that in any way. There is no connection,” the politician stated.
Asked about the possibility of forming a so-called government of professionals, Kulbergs acknowledged that, if such an approach were adopted, not all ministers would be non-partisan experts.
When asked how long it might take Parliament to adopt next year’s state budget, Kulbergs replied that, in the most optimistic scenario, the process could be completed by mid-to-late January.
He intends to submit the draft budget together with “all the necessary reform measures” as a single package, which would require additional preparation time.
At the end of the television interview, Kulbergs emphasised that he would only be able to officially begin negotiations on forming the new Cabinet today if the President formally nominated him.
“Everything that has happened so far has been, well, yes, an initiative,” the prospective government leader concluded.
As previously reported, President Rinkēvičs plans to formally invite Kulbergs to form the new Cabinet today.
The President announced in early October that Kulbergs should lead the formation of the next government.
However, the President can formally nominate a candidate for Prime Minister only after the outgoing government has resigned following the first sitting of the newly elected Saeima.
The newly elected Parliament convened for its first sitting on Tuesday, and shortly afterwards the outgoing Kulbergs government announced its resignation.
In the 15th Saeima elections, the United List secured 41 seats, Latvia First (LPV) won 17, the Sovereign Power/Young Latvians Alliance (SV/AJ) obtained 15, the National Alliance secured ten, the Progressives won ten, and New Unity (JV) received seven seats.