Coalition-building negotiations organized by “New Unity” (JV) are scheduled today in working groups to agree on what the next government should do in various areas.
A more informal approach is foreseen for these interviews, their time and place are not announced. Thematic meetings are also planned for Friday 21 October. They do not include the participation of the JV leader, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, who is due to attend the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium these days.
The JV talks with the representatives of the “Joint List” (AS), the National Union (NA) and the “Progresívo”. AS and NA indicated that they do not support the formation of a government with “progressives”.
JV leader Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš intends to provide more clarity on the further course of coalition negotiations following weekly talks with President Egils Levitas scheduled for Monday.
As reported, potential partners in the upcoming coalition are able to reach a unified position on state reform issues, JV politicians said Tuesday, stating that this will be the “good news” they intend to communicate to President Levits next week.
After the talks, Kariņš would have lost his concern that “the other” political force wanted to cancel the port reform or the territorial administrative reform (ATR). Regarding port reform and the ATR, the prime minister was previously concerned that “another” political force would “take a step back and cancel the reform”. In the discussion with the representatives of AS and NA, Kariņš received confirmation that there is no talk of canceling the port and ATR reform and that only their improvement and implementation is discussed.
NA leader Raivis Dzintars said the negotiations showed that NA and JV agree that there are no significant obstacles for both political forces to work in a joint coalition. From the statements of the representatives of the JV it can be concluded that the JV also has no significant disagreements with the “joint list” which would also interfere with the formation of a government with the JV.
Likewise, the representative of AS Edvards Smiltēns said that during the meeting, AS and JV were able to reach mutual understanding on issues that until now have been perceived as contradictory. AS politician Edgars Tavars said both sides have discussed ATR and port reform and that there is a common understanding of the work to be done.
As reported, President Levits authorized JV leader Kariņa to consult with other parties on the creation of a possible coalition.
After the 14 Saeima elections, the main point of disagreement in coalition formation negotiations is how many partners should be included in the new government and the coalition. JV, the leader of the negotiations, would like to have four political forces in the coalition: JV, AS, NA and also “Progressives”, while AS and NA do not want to see “Progressives” in the coalition.
JV won 26 mandates in the new call of Saeima, AS – 15, NA – 13 and “Progressives” – ten, so the coalition with the “Progressives” would have 64 votes in parliament and without – 54.
