On Friday, the 27 of June, Viesturs Kleinbergs, a representative of the Progressive party, was elected as the new Chairman of the Riga City Council.
Kleinbergs received 34 votes in favor, while 22 deputies voted against him. A total of 56 deputies participated in the council meeting.
As previously reported, the Riga City Council coalition consists of the Progressive party, the National Alliance (NA), New Unity (JV), and the United List (AS). These parties have signed a cooperation agreement and action plan, giving the coalition 34 out of 60 votes.
The opposition includes Ainārs Šlesers’ party Latvia First, which received 18.17% of the vote and secured 13 council seats; the Sovereign Power and Young Latvians alliance, which won 12.13% of the vote and eight mandates; and the party Stability!, which received 6.94% of the vote and five seats.
The coalition has reached a preliminary agreement on the division of committee responsibilities.
It also plans to restore the structure of three vice-mayor positions. Each of the coalition parties is expected to hold one vice-mayor post. Citizens are invited to submit their opinions on these changes by Monday.
The Progressive party, with 11 seats in the council, is expected to oversee the Finance and Administrative Affairs Committee and the Traffic and Transportation Committee.
The Deputy Mayor for Security, Property, Housing, and Environmental Affairs is expected to be a representative of the National Alliance, most likely current Deputy Mayor Edvards Ratnieks. NA will also be responsible for the Security, Order and Corruption Prevention Committee, the Housing and Environment Committee, and the City Property Committee. NA holds 10 seats in the council.
Although New Unity has only one seat fewer — nine deputies — it is planned to oversee one committee fewer than NA. The Deputy Mayor for Education, Culture, Sports, and Family Policy will be a representative of JV, likely the outgoing mayor Vilnis Ķirsis. JV will manage the Education, Culture and Sports Committee and the Social Affairs Committee.
The United List, which won just four seats, is also expected to receive one vice-mayor position and leadership of one committee. The Deputy Mayor for Urban Development and Riga Metropolitan Affairs is expected to be Māris Sprindžuks from AS, who will also be responsible for the City Development Committee.
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