On the 2nd of April, a new party was founded in Rezekne – Kopā Latvijai [Together for Latvia]. The core of the party is composed of politicians who left Harmony political party. Its leader is Rezekne City Council Chairman Aleksandrs Bartaševičs.
According to rumours, the party has 217 founders, which is enough for it to be registered and to commence political activity. Among the more well-known members of this new party is ex-Harmony member and Saeima Praesidium member Andrejs Klementjevs, the city council’s vice-chairman Aleksejs Stecs, Rezekne Council Council deputy Zigfrīds Lukaševičs, Salaspils Council Council member Ludmila Fedorkova, Jekabpils City Council member Andrejs Gavrilovs, former Ludza City Council chairman Jevgenijs Kuščs.
Klementjevs told BNN that municipal politicians who previously represented Harmony are seriously worried about the situation in this party, because they do not believe that under Nils Ušakovs’ leadership the party would be able to run confidently in the municipal elections in 2025.
The founding of the new party took place behind closed doors in Rezekne Concert Hall behind closed doors, basically without any presence from media representatives.
Only the people who signed up for participation in advance were admitted by security.
Two persons were turned around at the doors. Police were called in to assist with one conflict situation.
When asked about this «self-isolation», Klementjevs told BNN that it was due to the notary’s requests. He wanted to perform the procedure successfully. This is why he requested that no filming be done at the congress. [According to LTV, the notary, who wished to remain anonymous, denied this – he said making the event a closed on was the initiative of the organisers.] Klementjevs said that all questions asked by media representatives were answered by the party’s management.
As previously reported, Rezekne City Council chairman was expelled from Harmony due to his political vision for Latvia as a neutral [many politicians interpreted this is pro-Kremlin] country outside of NATO. The foundation of the new party was a wake-up call of sorts – specifically that Latvia will remain in the alliance and the European Union.
Topics related to foreign policy and other «difficult topics» will be circumvented,
as Klementjevs told the media after the congress. The party promises to focus on «treating the economy» and «consolidating society» in order to create a unified nation that does not have any national, social or religious discrimination.
The newly-founded party also denies having any ties to Estonian pro-Kremlin populist organisation Koos. The party also denies accusations from political opponents that municipal workers were somehow forced to join this organisation.
Also read: Harmony leader wishes Daugavpils mayor «good luck» with new party