Latvia’s President Egils Levits asked New Unity political party’s leader and Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to continue coalition formation talks for the 14th Saeima, as confirmed by the president after his meeting with Kariņš on Monday, 10 October.
It is vital to reach an agreement on operational principles and objectives, said Levits.
During the first round of coalition formation talks officials in Latvia agreed the new coalition should consist of three of four parties, according to what the president said.
Levits said that based on the report he received from Kariņš regarding his talks with potential coalition partners it can be concluded that there are options available to agree on the future coalition.
The talks held by New Unity’s leader have to lead to the formation of a coalition that will last four years, said the president.
For the country to continue developing, the government and coalition have to focus on improvement of rule of law, economic development and good management. The next government should not allow «selfish influence», said Levits.
The president therefore asks possible coalition partners to focus on worthwhile discussions and go through all possible objectives in order to understand the foundation of the next coalition.
The president invited Kariņš to report on results of coalition formation talks in a week – on 17 October.
When asked how coalition partners could agree on working together despite their differences, Levits stressed it is a secondary issue, because the future government’s programme is more important.
Before composing the government, potential partners have to discuss political principles of the new government, said Levits.
First of all, parties have to discuss themes and sectors that will play the most important roles in policy-making, as well as the next coalition’s work plan, the president said. Results of these talks will show which parties are more likely to reach a compromise and work together.
After his meeting with the president, New Unity leader Krišjānis Kariņš said the country needs a government and coalition that is able to provide residents with a safe country and economic development.
So far politicians engaged in coalition-formation talks have discussed topics like economic development, security, rule of law and improvement of the education system.
As for the National Alliance, New Unity is already aware on which topics the two parties have similar opinions and in which the two disagree, said the PM. As for topics related to national identity, New Unity and National Alliance have a clear agreement and aim for a joint policy. However, differences in beliefs of the two parties appear in topics like, Civil Union Law and the Istanbul Convention. «We could not agree on these topics four years ago, and we still haven’t reached an agreement,» said the PM.
According to Kariņš, after meeting with Progressive Party, he believes the party’s national views are similar to his and NA’s. No differences of opinions were found in in-depth discussions, he said.
He adds that New Unity and Progressive party share views about the rule of law, development of democracy and good state management.
However, talks became more complicated with this party when the discussion moved on to the topic of the state budget, added the PM. New Unity believes living in debt is not a worthwhile goal, and it is unclear as to how strongly the Progressive party believes that increasing the state debt is justifiable.
As for the topic of the Combined List and their involvement in the coalition, Kariņš said many politicians of this party have been known for a long time, but they came from different parties, adding that it remains largely unknown what this new formation is.
The PM got the impression that the Combined List has specific interests. For example, the party’s representatives started off talks with topics like the development of Liepaja Sea Port, which he found odd.
New Unity and the Combined List have similar opinions in regards to economic development, said Kariņš, adding at the same time that these topics were not discussed in detail. However, one source for concerns is the party’s desire to ‘go back to the past’ – review the administrative territorial reform, sea port laws, as well as the upcoming Skulte Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal. The prime minister is confused why the Combined List considers this project and independence from Russia unnecessary.
When asked if talks with Progressive Party could turn out to have been formal, considering both National Alliance and Combined List continue objecting to this party’s inclusion in the coalition, New Unity leader stressed the priority is what the government will do, whereas what specific individuals want is secondary.
If it is possible to agree on tasks to be done, we will be able to distribute seats, explained the PM.
When asked about the Combined List’s and National Alliance’s position on a three-party coalition, New Unity’s Leader said blocking in not in any party’s interests. The first round of talks showed that coalition formation will be a difficult process. However, the PM is confident it is possible to get through.