Slesers is sure that all opposition parties would support Pilens as president

RIGA - Ainars Slesers, the chairman of Latvia First group at the parliament, is sure that all opposition parties would support Uldis Pilens, the founder of the United List, as the Latvian president.

Latvia First representative Liga Krapane informed LETA on Slesers' opinion he voiced at the party's conference on March 25. He voiced support to Pilens, seeing in this way a possibility to crush the government headed by Krisjanis Karins (New Unity). "I clearly said that Latvia needs a new government. It means that negotiations on formation of a new government have started," said Slesers.

He underscored that his goal is to elect Pilens as the Latvian president and then topple Karins' government. "I can tell that Pilens will be a better president than [Egils] Levits. He is a businessman. Today in politics we need people who understand economy, who are ready to come up with proposals on economic transformation," Slesers said.

As reported, Uldis Pilens, a businessman and founder of the United List, said on Tuesday that he has decided to run for the Latvian presidency.

Pilens is the first candidate to announce his bid ahead of this year's presidential election, which will take place in May. Incumbent President Egils Levits has yet to reveal whether he will be running for reelection.