Negotiations on forming a new ruling coalition and government have not yet begun, but unofficial consultations will take place very soon. Andris Kulbergs has already stated that for now he prefers his previous coalition partners - the National Alliance and 'New Unity', with whom he will enter negotiations. It can already be asserted today that the hottest disputes 'on personnel issues' are expected between the United List and 'New Unity'. More specifically, the dispute will mainly be about who should take the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Last night on Latvian TV, one of the leaders of 'New Unity', Edmunds Jurēvics, particularly emphasized that this political force would like Baiba Braže to continue leading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who, by the way, has been elected to the new Saeima. Jurēvics made this wish not by chance - there is an active rumor circulating in political circles that the United List wants to take the portfolio of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. There is also a main contender for this position - the current Minister of Justice, Edvards Smiltenš. Since the United List will have as many as 41 parliamentary mandates in the Saeima, this political force can easily dictate its terms to potential partners. After all, the United List can form a government without 'New Unity'. Let us dare to assume that in the end, the new head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be Smiltenš, who also has experience working as the Speaker of the Saeima. And what about Baiba Braže? In this case, she will be offered the position of Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee. The current chair of this committee, Ināra Mūrniece from the National Alliance, will also not be 'offended' - after 4 years, she may return to the Speaker's chair of the Saeima. 'New Unity', having only 7 mandates, can expect a maximum of two ministerial portfolios: for example, Raivis Melniš may remain in the position of Minister of Defense, while Inese Lībiņa-Egner may be 'returned' to the Ministry of Justice, which will allow the ex-Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens, who remains off the list of candidates, to obtain a deputy mandate.
