United List names preferred partners for Latvia’s next coalition

Latvia’s election winner, the United List, plans to begin coalition talks with National Alliance and New Unity, LSM reported. The talks to form the next government have begun, while President Edgars Rinkēvičs is meeting representatives of all six parties elected to the 15th Saeima on Monday and Tuesday.

United List representative Edvards Smiltēns named the two parties as the group’s preferred partners. Andris Kulbergs, the current and potential next prime minister from the United List, said he would assess which parties were ready to drop promises that could not be fulfilled.

Based on preliminary results, the United List, National Alliance and New Unity together would hold 58 of the Saeima’s 100 seats.

All votes for candidates had been counted by Monday morning, though the results are due to be officially confirmed by October 19. The new Saeima is expected to include many new members, with 41 seats going to the United List. The party also received the highest number of positive votes, while the candidate with the most negative marks was not elected.

The election results will also change state funding for political parties. The United List is set to receive a record amount in the coming years, while parties that failed to clear the 2% threshold will receive no state funding.