Even though immediately after his election, Rinkēvičs handed in his resignation from the New Unity (Jaunā Vienotībā) party – as is customary for all State Presidents prior to assuming office – Rajevskis believes that because the president worked within the party and was one of its leading figures so long, voters will be on the lookout for any signs of favoritism or softballing in his dealings with Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.
"He [Rinkēvičs] is still associated with [New] Unity, considering that in the last [Saeima] elections, the president ran for them and was their most popular politician. I think that people still associate him with it – he is a Unity politician," said Rajevskis.
Rajevskis believes that it will take time until Rinkēvičs can completely distance himself from New Unity in people's minds, but the current politcal games described by Rajevskis as "comical" give him a chance to so. New Unity's belief that it currently has widespread public support could prove to be a "myth" he said. In addition "The President must take into account the parliament. We are a parliamentary republic," Rajevskis said.
The 2024 budget process which is due to reach parliament soon could prove complicated with parties within the current coalition that drew it up unable to trust each other, the analyst pointed out.
