Latvia’s coalition talks reveal potential ministerial picks

Most possible ministerial candidates have emerged as formal talks on forming a government begin, LSM reported, citing Latvian Television’s Panorāma programme on Wednesday evening.

Former Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital board chairman Normunds Staņēvičs and Citadele Bank economist Kārlis Purgailis could serve as non-partisan professionals, as health and finance ministers respectively. Cardiologist Andris Skride is also being considered for health minister.

Other possible appointments include Edgars Štelmahers as economy minister, Viesturs Vitkovskis as justice minister and Līga Meņģelsone as welfare minister. Raivis Melnis could remain defence minister, while Edgars Tavars could continue as minister for smart administration and regional development.

Edgars Putra is a possible agriculture minister, and Česlavs Batņa could be nominated as education and science minister. Diplomat Edgars Skuja has been approached about becoming foreign minister.

The proposed allocation is preliminary and does not cover every ministerial post. It could change as parties seek compromises.

President Edgars Rinkēvičs has tasked Kulbergs with leading government formation. His party, the United List, won 41 seats in the 15th Saeima election. The National Alliance won 10 seats and New Unity seven, giving the three parties a wider parliamentary majority if they agree to join forces. The United List has ruled out considering a coalition with the Progressives or Latvia First, according to the report.

Other parties elected to parliament were Latvia First, with 17 seats; Sovereign Power/Association of Young Latvians, with 15; and the Progressives, with 10. The Union of Greens and Farmers, a member of the outgoing coalition, failed to clear the five percent threshold and will not be represented in parliament for the first time in its 24-year history. Turnout was 51.79 percent, the lowest in parliamentary election history, with 806,641 voters casting ballots.