Foto: BB.LV / В ожидании правительства
Prime Minister candidate Andris Kulbergs ("United List", UL) assures that the parties are finding common ground on the most important issues. However, behind the external agreement, the first disagreements have already emerged, and "New Unity" is clearly dissatisfied with its role in the negotiations. **First Reforms, Then Seats** In the first week, Kulbergs managed to hold negotiations with "New Unity", the National Alliance, and the "Progressives". For now, politicians prefer to discuss future reforms rather than dividing ministerial portfolios. According to one of the leaders of the UL, Edvards Smiltenis, potential partners supported almost all proposed initiatives. "We offered them a list of several complex decisions and essentially received support for almost all proposals," Smiltenis told the LETA agency. However, disagreements have not been avoided. The sticking point has been state funding for political parties. The "United List" proposes to slightly reduce these expenses, but "New Unity" does not agree with this idea. At the same time, as claimed by a representative of the UL, mutual understanding has been achieved on other important issues. This concerns bringing order to state finances, revising the work of public administration, and carrying out reforms. **Ministerial Portfolios Are Not Being Divided Yet. At Least, Officially** Smiltenis insists that discussing the names of future ministers is premature. First, it is necessary to agree on the decisions that the new cabinet of ministers will have to make. "Society should know that the question of positions will be the last item on the agenda of the negotiations," the politician emphasized. According to him, even potential partners do not yet have specific agreements on the distribution of ministerial posts. The logic of the UL is simple: first agree on complex and possibly unpopular reforms, and only then determine who is ready to take responsibility for their implementation. **“New Unity” Begins to Get Nervous** However, not all participants in the negotiations share the optimism of the "United List". Former Prime Minister Evika Silina ("New Unity") has already expressed concern about what is happening. According to her, it is still difficult to understand in which direction the formation of the government is moving. Moreover, "New Unity" does not have the feeling that the party is fully participating in the creation of the future coalition. And there seem to be grounds for such concern. **No Place for “New Unity” in the Presidium of the Saeima** Alongside the negotiations about the government, politicians are also discussing the distribution of leadership positions in the 15th Saeima. According to the LETA agency, Edvards Smiltenis is being considered for the position of Speaker of the Parliament. The presidium may also include Raimonds Vejonis ("United List"), Linda Liepina ("Latvia First"), Inara Murniece (National Alliance), and Antonina Nenashova ("Progressives"). It is noteworthy that there is no representative of "New Unity" on this list. Thus, while some politicians talk about the need to first agree on reforms, a possible distribution of influential parliamentary positions is already taking shape in parallel. **A New Round of Negotiations Ahead** Next week, the political intrigue will continue. Andris Kulbergs intends to meet with representatives of the "Latvia First" party. These negotiations may bring additional clarity to the future power configuration. For now, the main question remains open: will Kulbergs manage to gather a stable coalition and what role will "New Unity" play in it? Judging by the results of the first week, the struggle for influence in the new government is just beginning.
