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Latvian PM-designate strikes deal with National Alliance, trying to form coalition gov't

Xinhua, January 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Maris Kucinskis, Latvia's prime minister-designate of the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) who is working to put together a new coalition government, reached an agreement with the right-wing National Alliance party on Thursday, but the center-right Unity party remained hesitant about joining his cabinet.

Unity leader Solvita Aboltina told reporters after a joint meeting of the Unity board and parliamentary faction that control over the justice ministry would be the party's red line in government formation talks. In Latvia's previous government, the portfolio of justice minister was held by a representative of the National Alliance.

"This is one of the most important demands. In the given situation, we regard it as one of our 'red lines'," the Unity leader said.

Later in the afternoon, National Alliance co-chair Raivis Dzintars told the press that the alliance's board and parliamentary faction had unanimously agreed on work in the Kucinskis-led government.

The prime minister-designate reportedly assured the National Alliance that the new government declaration would contain a clause that Latvia would neither take in more asylum seekers on a voluntary basis nor accept mandatory refugee admission quotas.

The politicians also reached agreements on a transition to the Latvian language being the only language of instruction in public schools, and tackling Latvia's demographic issues.

Kucinskis also promised to support the National Alliance's demands for a stricter stance on residence permits that are granted to foreigners in return for buying properties in Latvia, Dzintars said.

Meanwhile, the three opposition parties in Latvia's current parliament - the leftist Harmony party, For Latvia from the Heart (NSL), and the Latvian Alliance of Regions (LRA) - said they would not back Kucinskis' government.

Harmony, which has the largest faction in Latvia's current parliament, is not going to endorse a government of which it is not a part, said Valerijs Agesins, an MP of the Harmony faction.

NSL and LRA announced their decision even though Kucinskis had intended to hold talks with the two opposition parties.

Latvia's outgoing Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma of the Unity party announced her resignation on Dec. 7. Endit