Parties positive over KPV LV demands in coalition talks

Take note – story published 5 years ago

On January 3 the KPV LV party decided it will resume coalition talks, with party leader Aldis Gobzems ceding the Interior Minister nomination that was contested by the four parties currently teamed up to set up a cabinet months after the October 6 general elections.

Gobzems told this to the press after a KPV LV faction meeting.

Another important figure inside the party, Atis Zakatistovs, told journalists that KPV LV has drawn up a list of five demands that would have to be met in order for KPV LV to join the new government, and later the same day the other parties said that this makes for a significant move towards setting up a new government. 

KPV LV's demands were not revealed to the public, despite the party's pre-election rhetoric about bringing in a new, transparent form of politics. Nevertheless according to LTV they are:

  • Not setting up new ministerial posts. This goes against the earlier offer in coalition talks to set up a 'demographics ministry' to be led by National Alliance's Imants Parādnieks
  • KPV LV would take an active part in the administrative reform, with a veto option available to the party
  • KPV LV would have the Parliamentary Secretary seat at the Finance Ministry
  • KPV LV would only join a government led by New Unity's Krišjānis Kariņš
  • KPV LV would lead the Economics Committee at the Latvian parliament. It is currently headed by Greens and Farmers Union MP Jānis Dūklavs. 

The New Unity party, the New Conservative Party as well as the National Alliance and Development/For! met on January 3 to agree on a response to these demands. 

While no party outright denied the demands, Development/For! leader Juris Pūce told the press his party will discuss the demands in depth in the evening. 

Gobzems' candidacy for Interior Minister was earlier ruled out by the four-party bloc that is currently regarded as the most likely arrangement to form a government. However, between them, they only hold 50 deputee seats in the 100-seat Latvian parliament, meaning they would have to pass legislation with the assistance of another party or parties, or support from individual members in other parties.

Later on Thursday, President Raimonds Vējonis announced that he will hold talks with parties again on the morning of Friday 5, increasing the chances that Kariņš may be nominated to form a government soon afterwards.

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