Latvian president asks incumbent premier to begin forming next government

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on Tuesday tasked incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs with forming a new government after his United List party won the general election, public broadcaster LSM reported.

Rinkevics announced the decision following a meeting with Kulbergs, whose party secured 41 seats in the newly elected parliament, known as the Saeima.

The president said consultations with all parties elected to parliament showed that most supported United List and Kulbergs beginning talks on forming a government.

Negotiations will address the coalition’s composition, the division of responsibilities and the preparation of a draft government policy statement.

The announcement is political rather than a formal legal nomination. The president can officially nominate a prime minister after the new parliament convenes and the current government resigns.

The newly elected Saeima will hold its first sitting on Nov. 3.

United List has said it will first hold talks with its existing coalition partners, the National Alliance and New Unity, which won 10 and seven seats, respectively. The three parties would together control 58 seats in the 100-member parliament.

Kulbergs has ruled out cooperation with Latvia First, which placed second in the election with 17 seats, according to LSM.

A coalition comprising United List and the National Alliance alone would hold a slim 51-seat majority.

Analysts cited by the broadcaster consider a three-party coalition including New Unity to be the most likely scenario, although other arrangements remain possible.