There will be issues that the new Riga City Council coalition will find difficult to decide on – such as matters of traffic and security – but the coalition will be able to work successfully through the entire term, said Viesturs Kleinbergs (Progressives), the mayoral candidate, in an interview with the TV3 program 900 seconds.
He viewed potential differences of opinion among partners as a positive: “Often, some truth is born in the middle of those disagreements,” he remarked.
“So far, all partners have demonstrated constructive behavior and a willingness to deliver better results,” Kleinbergs noted.
Asked whether he is confident that coalition partners will back his ideas, Kleinbergs replied that he is ready to defend ideas that all partners have agreed upon – even if those ideas were not initially his own.
The politician stated that it will be the parties’ task to balance values and decisions in such a way that everyone benefits.
“I am convinced that all our cooperation partners equally understand that Riga’s residents have given us a second chance.
If we betray them, I don’t think there will be a third,” said Kleinbergs.
As reported, the new Riga City Council coalition consists of The Progressives, National Alliance (NA), New Unity (JV), and United List (AS), which last week signed a cooperation agreement and an action plan for Riga.
In the new coalition, The Progressives, who hold 11 seats, will secure the mayor’s post – for which Kleinbergs has been nominated – along with control over the Finance and Administrative Affairs Committee and the Transport and Traffic Committee.
The coalition has also agreed to reinstate three deputy mayor positions in the Riga City Council. Each party will have one vice-mayor. Residents are invited to provide feedback on these changes until June 30.
The deputy mayor in charge of security, property, housing, and environmental issues will be a NA representative, 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 seat fewer – nine councilors – it is expected to receive one committee fewer than NA.
The deputy mayor responsible for education, culture, sports, and family policy will be a JV representative, most likely the current mayor Vilnis Ķirsis. JV will be in charge of the Education, Culture and Sports Committee and the Social Affairs Committee.
Meanwhile, United List, which has only four seats, is set to gain a vice-mayor post and the leadership of one committee. The deputy mayor for city development and metropolitan Riga matters will be an AS representative, most likely Māris Sprindžuks. AS will oversee the City Development Committee.
In total, the coalition of The Progressives, NA, JV, and AS would command 34 out of 60 seats.
Read also: New Riga city council coalition pledges to develop a safe and crisis-ready city