The current Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, of the conservative People's Party, has been nominated to maintain his position in the new government by the ruling coalition, the prime minister's spokesman, Arno Pjatkins, said.
"The core of the government is formed," Ainars Slesers, chairman of Latvia's First Party, said. Slesers and Augusts Brigmanis, leader of the Greens and Farmers, said their parties had entrusted Kalvitis to form the next government.
Brigmanis said his party was pleased with the work of the previous government. "Greens and Farmers Union had not set the appointment of Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs as prime minister as an end in itself."
Lembergs stands accused of money laundering.
Atis Slakteris, chairman of the People's Party, said all three coalition partners have agreed to form the core of the new government.
Kalvitis said the three government partners will discuss expanding the coalition on Oct. 11 and 12 with For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (TB/LNNK) and the opposition center-right New Era party.
Slesers did not rule out the possibility of a New Era-LPP coaliton.
