It is unlikely that New Unity will succeed in expanding the existing coalition, said Filips Rajevskis, politologist and public relations specialist, evaluating New Unity’s negotiations with the Progressives and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) regarding the expansion of the existing coalition.
The politologist pointed out that it is not visible that any progress has been made, but what is more visible is how the political forces have positioned themselves. The Combined List and the National Alliance have announced that they do not want any changes in the coalition. That’s why,
if New Unity wants to change something in the coalition it must overthrow the existing leadership,
explained Rajevskis, adding that at the same time, New Unity doesn’t want such fundamental changes.
Viktors Valainis, chairman of the ZZS Saeima faction, stated that ZZS does not want to be just an addition to the coalition. It would rather form a new coalition, adds Rajevskis. He thinks that a “facade renovation” will not be enough for the coalition, and there will be a new government model.
“If you look at which of the political forces is interested in making changes in the composition of the government faster, it is New Unity,” said Rajevskis. The most popular minister of New Unity, Edgars Rinkēvičs, has been elected as the President. In addition, behind the political scenes, rumor has it that Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) is interested in running for the European Parliament (EP) elections.
Meanwhile, the other parties are not in a hurry because they have nowhere to hurry. Namely, ZZS and Progressives have announced that they are not rushing and can work in constructive opposition but National Alliance and Combined List believe that the coalition doesn’t need changes and that it is necessary to work within the existing composition.
Rajevsky explained that currently, New Unity indicates
the need to open the labor market as the main argument for the expansion of the coalition.
Unpopular changes in tax policy are said to be another argument for changes in the coalition.
As for how the Aivars Lembergs factor (for Latvia and Ventspils) will affect the parties in the future, the political scientist admits that it does not seem that any politician would be very uncomfortable about it. Rajevskis also noted that Lemberg’s influence on ZZS was undeniable because, with Lembergs as Prime Minister candidate, ZZS managed to regain its strength in the parliament. That suggests that there are groups that do not accept Lembergs, and there are groups in which his activities are evaluated positively therefore this issue is perceived differently among politicians.
Kariņš has previously stated that he wants the expansion of the coalition in order to achieve smoother work in organizing the school network, improving the health care situation, labor issues, moving state-owned capital companies to the stock exchange and social issues, that is, the ratification of the Istanbul Convention is necessary “as a symbolic but very important Saeima gesture” and the execution of the decision of the Constitutional Court, which is related to the regulation of civil union.