Latvia’s outgoing government resigns but remains in office until successor is approved

Latvia’s government, led by Andris Kulbergs of the United List, has formally resigned following the first sitting of the 15th Saeima but will continue working until parliament approves a new cabinet, LSM reported. The arrangement is provided for by the Cabinet Structure Law and ensures continuity in the state’s work.

Kulbergs called the resignation an important moment for his government, saying it had worked to strengthen Latvia’s security and advance issues important to the country. He also said the government had restored public confidence in national security and brought more momentum to its work.

He said the immediate priorities were to form a new government, prepare the next state budget and defend Latvia’s interests in talks in Brussels on the next multiannual budget.

President Edgars Rinkēvičs is due to meet Kulbergs, the candidate for prime minister, at Riga Castle on Wednesday morning. The president names a prime ministerial candidate after the outgoing government resigns following the convening of a newly elected Saeima.

Rinkēvičs has tasked Kulbergs with leading the government-formation process. Kulbergs’ United List won 41 seats in the 15th Saeima election. Formal coalition talks began last week, but the possible shape of the new coalition and which parties might join it remain unclear.

The United List won the election, followed by Latvia First with 17 seats, Sovereign Power/Association of Young Latvians with 15, the National Alliance and the Progressives with 10 each, and New Unity with seven. The Union of Greens and Farmers, a partner in the outgoing coalition, did not pass the five percent threshold.