Aboltina re-elected speaker

RIGA -- Latvian parliamentary speaker Solvega Aboltina has been re-elected to her post, becoming only the second speaker in history to serve in two parliaments.

"This is a pivotal moment in Latvian history, the first time Parliament has been elected extraordinary election," said Aboltina. "We all need to word together for Latvia."

Aboltina was elected with 51 votes in favor shortly after the parliament rejected a bid for the post from former President Valdis Zatlers.

COALITION BUILDING

Zatlers' failure to win the post casts new doubt onto the ability of is party, ZRP, to form a successful coalition with Unity and VL-TB/LNNK. The parties had been due to finalize the the new government this week.

The failed vote comes just days after six MPs announced that they would leave ZRP due to conflict with the party leadership. The loss of the MPs will mean that the would-be coalition has exactly half of the votes in parliament.

It will be up to President Andris Berzins to name a new prime minister.