51 Members had come to the meeting and voted. Of the 51 ballot marks thrown into the urn, one was invalidated. Ķirsis' election was backed by 33 councilors, while 17 deputies were against.
Ķirsis' candidacy was advanced by the New Unity faction after unanimous support. The new “Coalition for Cooperation”, consisting of New Unity, National Alliance/Latvian Regional Alliance (NA/LRA), Code for Riga, Honor to serve Riga, For Latvia's Development, For!, also supported Ķirsis.
Ķirsis said in a speech to the Riga City Council that “Rīgans are tired of the political games and political dramas that took place this summer”.
“I am clearly aware that my approach to the work will provide the city administration for Rīgans so that the Riga City Council is a well-regulated, urban-friendly mechanism that works in a transparent, well-set rhythm, safe and long-term manner,” said Ķirsis.
According to the Coalition's Memorandum of Cooperation, in the future Rīga will not have three vice mayors but two – Linda Ozola (Code for Riga) and Edvards Ratnieks (NA/LRA).
Vilnis Ķirsis holds a degree in economic analysis and prognostics, and has been acting in politics since 2011. In 2014 he became a Member of the Saeima from the Unity faction. Before being elected to Rīga City Council in 2020, he worked as the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Economy and an advisor to the Foreign Minister in economics and energy matters.
