Kulbergs seeks up to €3 billion in savings over three years

Prime ministerial candidate Andris Kulbergs of the United List says Latvia should save as much as €3 billion over the next three years to restore sustainable fiscal discipline, LSM reported.

In the second round of government-formation talks on Monday, Kulbergs met representatives of New Unity, the Progressives and the National Alliance. He said he had not yet received sufficiently specific proposals from New Unity on possible budget cuts and public administration reforms, and had expected more concrete ideas from the Progressives as well.

Kulbergs said he believed both parties shared an understanding of the need to put public finances in order. The United List presented its proposals for changes, which Kulbergs said would require the involvement of parliament as well as the government.

The talks were broader than the first round, with four representatives from each party instead of two. The agenda called for each party to name three priority changes and three steps to support economic growth. Participants were also due to discuss potential budget savings and whether changing the number of ministries or their responsibilities could improve the government’s work.

Kulbergs also met Latvia First in the first round of talks. He said the issues with that party had already been discussed, so no meeting was planned for this round.