The overarching goals of the new Riga City Council coalition are to create a safe and crisis-resilient Riga, as well as a city where the future grows, with a developed and connected Riga metropolis, according to the coalition’s action plan.
As stated by Letīcija Līva Lukjanska, a representative of the Progressives, the coalition partners have agreed to include 15 priority action areas with specific objectives in the plan.
These priorities include: modern governance and reducing bureaucracy, upgraded streets, bridges, and courtyards, convenient and safe mobility for all, and public transport.
Other key focus areas are: civil protection and security, housing construction and energy efficiency, urban environment and environmental protection, support for business and attracting investment.
The coalition also emphasizes: education, youth, and extracurricular learning, cultural development in all Riga neighborhoods, sports, support for families, health, and social protection, development of the Riga metropolitan area, and strengthening neighborhoods and a democratic society. The coalition pledges to use these directions as a roadmap for joint work.
As reported earlier, the new Riga City Council coalition is formed by the factions of the Progressives, National Alliance (NA), New Unity (JV), and the United List (AS), which signed a cooperation agreement and action plan on Thursday.
The Progressives, holding 11 seats, will nominate the next mayor—Viesturs Kleinbergs.
They will also take responsibility for the Finance and Administrative Affairs Committee and the Transport and Traffic Committee.
The Vice Mayor for Security, Property, Housing, and Environment will be from the National Alliance, most likely the current Deputy Mayor Edvards Ratnieks. NA will oversee the Security, Order, and Anti-Corruption Committee, the Housing and Environment Committee, and the City Property Committee. NA holds 10 seats.
Although New Unity has only one fewer seat (9 deputies), it will oversee one fewer committee than NA. The Vice Mayor for Education, Culture, Sports, and Family Policy will be from JV, likely the current mayor Vilnis Ķirsis. JV will lead the Education, Culture and Sports Committee and the Social Affairs Committee.
Despite having just 4 seats, the United List (AS) is expected to hold a vice-mayor post and chair one committee.
Māris Sprindžuks is the likely nominee for Vice Mayor for Urban Development and the Riga Metropolis. AS will also manage the Urban Development Committee.
Altogether, the coalition of the Progressives, NA, JV, and AS would command 34 out of 60 seats in the Riga City Council.
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