Minister: National Alliance probably won't support any Presidential candidate

The National Alliance will most likely not support any of the three candidates during the Presidential vote in Saeima in a week's time, Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) said on Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" news show May 23.

Puntulis admitted that the presidential elections, which will be held on May 31, have become inextricably related to the current coalition model. According to him, the existing coalition formed by the National Alliance, New Unity and the United List is the optimal one. 

"We will have demonstrated each of our candidates, and this would be the right time to sit down at the negotiating table and agree on one that would satisfy everyone," said Puntulis.

New Unity has nominated Edgars Rinkēvičs for the position of President, and the United List has nominated Uldis Pīlēns. The third Presidential candidate, Elīna Pinto, comes from outside the ruling coalition and has been nominated by the opposition Progressives party.

The National Alliance itself had put forward incumbent President Egils Levits, but after announcing his willingness to run for a second term in April, he did a U-turn and withdrew his candidacy in May. 

"If we draw parallels with living together, then turning and leaving is not art, the art is to stay together after a difficult situation and solve it," said Puntulis, apparently comparing life in a three-way coalition to a ménage à trois.

The representative of the National Union called on the coalition partners to stay together and agree on a common candidate. When asked about the stability of the coalition, Puntulis admitted that he does not see any insurmountable obstacles that would prevent this coalition from continuing its work.

The National Alliance controls 13 of the 100 seats in Saeima.

The presidential vote in Saeima will be held on May 31. 

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