Levits and Karins confident about

RIGA - President Egils Levits and Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) are confident about the "compact coalition's" ability to work until the next Saeima elections, both officials said at a news conference Wednesday. 

Levits said that the situation in the government coalition was the only topic discussed in his meeting with Karins. 

"The coalition has agreed that from now on it will be working in a more compact format. I hope and believe that the new Cabinet format will be able to continue work until the next Saeima elections," the president said. 

He also voiced hope that in the fall the coalition will hold successful talks on Latvia's 2022 budget to avoid a constitutional crisis. "The budget will be development-oriented, not populistic, and the Cabinet of Ministers will work until the Saeima elections," Levits said.

The president believes that the government is stable and unless there is some new crisis, the Cabinet will work until the parliamentary elections. 

Karins, meanwhile, indicated that since he became head of government, his objective has been to maintain stability in the country and government and to work towards concrete goals.

The prime minister described the coalition reshuffle as a turning point in his Cabinet's work. "Everybody has been speculating about the government's stability or instability since the Cabinet was approved. I believe that as long as politicians are ready to work towards a common goal, a government can maintain stability," Karins said.

As reported, Latvia's government coalition will continue its work without KPV LV, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) told journalists following a meeting with President Egils Levits on Wednesday.

Thus, Latvia's government coalition now includes the New Conservative Party (JKP), For Development/For, the National Alliance and New Unity. Karins added that the coalition's agreement to continue work without KPV LV was the "partners' agreement to continue work in a compact manner".

The prime minister informed that with KPV LV leaving the coalition, Marija Golubeva (For Development/For), Gatis Eglitis (New Conservative Party, JKP) and Janis Vitenbergs (National Alliance) have been nominated to take over the ministerial posts previously held by KPV LV members. Anita Muizniece (JKP) will replace Ilga Suplinska (JKP) as education and science minister under an agreement reached by the parties, Karins said.

Until now, KPV LV party controlled two portfolios in Latvia's current government - Sandis Girgens was interior minister and Ramona Petravica headed the Welfare Ministry.

Vitenbergs will return as economics minister, Golubeva will be appointed interior minister and Eglitis will become the new welfare minister.

The prime minister also informed that already on Wednesday the remaining coalition partners will sign a new cooperation memorandum and the Saeima might vote on the new government composition on Thursday, June 3.