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Unity picks its leader as candidate for Latvia's next PM

Xinhua, December 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

The center-right Unity party decided on Tuesday to nominate its leader Solvita Aboltina as a candidate for Latvia's next prime minister despite resistance from several dissenting members of the Unity faction in parliament.

Unity representative Karlis Sadurskis told reporters after a joint meeting of the Unity board and parliament faction that the faction and board had yet to vote on Aboltina's candidacy, but that the party would formally name its candidate sometime between Christmas and Dec. 28.

Aboltina's nomination, however, may split the Unity faction in Latvia's current parliament as six of its members have raised strong objections to her candidacy.

Also, Unity's coalition partners, the right-wing National Alliance and centrist Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS), reiterated on Tuesday that they did not back Aboltina as a candidate for prime minister.

Aboltina said on Tuesday that the National Alliance has to be part of Latvia's new government and called against drawing any red lines in forming the new coalition.

ZZS is also planning to announce its candidate for prime minister by Dec. 28.

President Raimonds Vejonis, who is expected to formally nominate Latvia's would-be prime minister, has called on political parties to come up with their candidates by the end of this year.

A new coalition government has to be formed in Latvia after Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma announced her resignation on Dec. 7.

Aboltina was initially seen as the most likely candidate to head the next government, but the right-wing National Alliance's refusal to accept her candidacy as well as insufficient support in her own party may have dashed her premiership hopes. Endit