New Unity proposes equal distribution of positions in government among parties

RIGA – The new Unity proposes equal distribution of position in the government among parties, irrespective of the size of representation at the parliament.

The New Unity today has started discussions with five other parties on the proposal to form a coalition government under the leadership of Krisjanis Karins (New Unity).

The position of the parliament speaker according to the proposal is equal to the position of a minister, thus, there are in total 15 positions to be discussed – 14 ministers and the parliament speaker.

New Unity’s MP Ojars Kalnins said that the New Unity will insist on heading also the finance and foreign ministries in a potential new government.

The New Unity believes that the best and most sustainable cooperation model would be with a stable majority of the center-right and European-oriented parties. The party plans to propose that decision on the state budget, citizenship, language issues, the Euro-atlantic course are made based on a concensus principle.

Before discussing new initiatives or reforms, the coalition parties would first discuss them in a special development committee where all coalition parties would be represented. It could replace the present coalition council.

The New Unity names maintaining the Euro-atlantic course and fiscal discipline as the basic principle of the new government. The New Unity proposes to agree on a responsible budgetary politics in the coming years.

Work on the financial sector, the judiciary sector, fight against corruption, shadow economy, further development of the education reform, liquidation of the mandatory purchase component, availability of health care services to residents, the territorial reform could be among the new government’s priorities.

As reported, New Unity is planning meetings with five other political parties this Friday to discuss the proposal to form a coalition government under the leadership of Krisjanis Karins. The political parties so far have expressed readiness to back New Unity and Karins’ initiative to assume the leadership role in forming Latvia’s next government.

Politicians expect the Karins-led Cabinet to be formed comparatively quickly after two previous candidates for prime minister – Janis Bordans (JKP) and Aldis Gobzems (KPV LV) – failed to form a government.