Kučinskis says Latvia’s government talks are nearing conclusion

Latvia’s government formation is nearing its final stage, but the United List and the National Alliance still need to settle several issues, United List parliamentary faction leader Māris Kučinskis said, according to public broadcaster LSM.

Kučinskis made the remarks after meeting President Edgars Rinkēvičs. He did not specify which issues remained unresolved or when the parties might reach an agreement. He also said they had not discussed candidates for ministerial posts.

Kučinskis described the meeting as part of the president’s regular consultations with all parliamentary factions. The meetings were spread over two days for practical reasons.

The discussion also covered the start of work in the Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, and which unfinished bills from the previous parliamentary term should be carried over. Kučinskis cited the Ports Law as one example.

He said the president had stressed the importance of forming a government with solid foundations that could function and carry out planned reforms. No specific deadline has been set. Kučinskis said there was no requirement to have a government in place by the 17th, although talks with the National Alliance were still under way.