PM Kučinskis: I'm willing to carry on after elections

Take note – story published 6 years ago

Current Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis said February 12 he would be willing to carry on in the position if his Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) party does sufficiently well in parliamentary elections due to take place in October.

In an interview with Latvian Radio, the premier confirmed he would be running in the Saeima elections and that he would be prepared to carry on in his job is asked to do so.

"I think that if the voters so choose, then I don't see why not," said Kučinskis.

He also defended his low-key style saying his government was simply focused on going about its business to fulfill the tasks set out in the work plan that was the basis of the coalition, with complex but necessary reforms in the education and health sectors top of the agenda. He also talked up his track record in meeting with a large number of NGOs, unions and employers' bodies in an attempt to find common ground.

"Every week all the chief officials come to see me... we talk about the tasks for the week ahead and how to fulfill them, even when ministers are absent," he said.

A formal decision on ZZS' candidate for the prime minister's seat in the elections will eb made in the summer, but this time around it seems that the perennial candidate Aivars Lembergs, on trial for major graft for more than 9 years and counting, will not be the name on the ticket.

Last week Kučinskis marked two years since he took over as Prime Minister from predecessor Laimdota Straujuma of the Unity party after internal bickering within her party wrecked her administration and allowed ZZS to take over the reins of power.

Despite a notable lack of enthusiasm when it came to offering up candidates to succeed Straujuma, Kučinskis eventually agreed to take on the burden of responsibility and is generally agreed to have been a reliable if unspectacular PM since then. 

 

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