“People in Latvia need a government that works as a team in the interest of the public and economic growth. This is why we have started work on a new government model,” said Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, starting negotiations with National Alliance (NA), Combined List (AS), Progressive Party (PRO) and Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS).
After the meeting of coalition partners, the board of New Unity (JV) supported and delegated Kariņš to commence political consultations about a new possible government model’s creation.
The party believes this decision from the prime minister is welcome, considering that the existing coalition partners –
NA and AS have rejected the PM’s offer to replace ministers and sign the memorandum for government tasks to be completed by the end of the year.
At the same time the board of JV stresses that no pauses are allowed when tackling serious problems. This is why the decision to organise political consultations is supported. The existing government will continue working normally for the time being.
Previously it was reported that both NA and AS rejected the prime minister’s offer for rotation of ministers and the signing of a new memorandum for important government tasks.
“People in Latvia need a government that works as a team in the interest of public welfare and economic growth. This is why New Unity under my lead is commencing work on an alternative government model through consultations with political parties represented in the Saeima – ZZS, PRO, NA and AS,” said Kariņš.
According to him, for the government to accomplish its tasks to ensure economic transformation and promotion of public welfare, it is necessary to secure majority support in the Saeima and the ruling coalition. This is why the PM has insisted on the coalition’s expansion since the end of presidential elections.
But the existing coalition partners do not support and even block attempts to expand the government.
Kariņš stressed that “Latvia is a successful country, it continues developing”.
“We live in freedom and we can create our own future. The fact that there are slight fights in the work of the government is nothing serious – it happens in many democracies, ours included. I will do all we can so that we can move past all that and for work to continue,” admitted the PM, adding that “the position if existing partners became clear after the meeting – they do not agree with the offer”.
The prime minister is “grateful for the work done and said he will now focus time and efforts to find ways to create a different, alternative government”.
Also read: Partners: Latvian PM rejects offer from NA and AS for coalition to remain united