I think I have a good chance of being appointed president - Levits

  • 2019-04-18
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA, April 18 (LETA) - In an interview with the LNT television channel this morning, presidential candidate Egils Levits, who currently serves as a judge on the EU Court of Justice, said that he believes he has a good chance of being appointed president by Saeima.

He said that if politicians are being honest, he has majority support in parliament.

As an additional factor in his favor, Levits mentioned the fact that this will be the first presidential vote at Saeima which will be an open one.

He said that he has not yet met with opposition parties, but added that it would be positive to obtain votes from the opposition as well. ''It would be great to be supported by the opposition, but the majority at the end of the day will make the final decision,'' Levits said.

As reported, the government coalition parties have agreed to nominate Levits for Latvian president, said Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) after the coalition meeting on Monday.

He said that the coalition has agreed on one candidate and he does not see any reason for this candidate not to win the majority support at the parliament.

KPV LV leader Artuss Kaimins said that the party will not name its own candidate for the president, and there will be one candidate nominated by the coalition.

Kaimins said that he himself and several other KPV LV lawmakers will support Levits, while some other lawmakers might vote differently.

The National Alliance, the New Conservative Party and For Development/For already earlier had voiced support to Levits as the president.

The Saeima opposition parties might nominate their own candidates for the president’s post, but they have not named any yet.

Saeima will vote on the next president later this spring.