Coalition talks may prove difficult as three government options emerge

Talks to form Latvia’s next government are unlikely to be smooth, political scientists told a special broadcast by Latvia’s public media, LSM reported. President Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Tuesday that he would again ask incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List to form a government after the newly elected Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, convenes.

Political scientist Lelde Metla-Rozentāle said the United List’s 41 seats gave it a clear lead, but its potential partners, the National Alliance and New Unity, were not showing it much deference. She said negotiations would involve parties pressing for their priorities, though that was not necessarily a bad thing.

Political scientist Juris Rozenvalds outlined three possible arrangements: a government formed by the United List alone; a coalition between the United List and the National Alliance; or a three-party coalition that also includes New Unity. Provisional results give the National Alliance 10 seats and New Unity seven.

Rozenvalds said a broader coalition including the Progressives was unlikely because of fundamental differences. Metla-Rozentāle also pointed to differences between the United List and the Progressives on values and economic policy. She said Latvia First had ideological differences with the United List, and noted that Kulbergs had previously ruled out cooperation with Aleksandrs Bartāševičs, identified in the report as a former Rēzekne mayor and Latvia First’s lead candidate in Latgale.

The political scientists said a government could be formed before Latvia’s national holiday in November, as Rinkēvičs hopes. The report also raised questions about the United List’s internal unity and the distribution of ministerial posts, including foreign affairs and transport.