The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) has established its claim to be the lead partner in the new Latvian government, which the Baltic state’s political parties have been negotiating since December, local media reported on February 2.
ZZS’s Maris Kucinis has now completed the task of forging a new government line-up. Previous coalition leader Unity has faced an intenal crisis since Prime minister Laimdota Straujuma stepped down in late 2015. The prospective new PM said the vote to approve the new government could take place on February 11, BNN reports.
Kucinis' success in securing the support of the centre-right Unity and the rightwing National Alliance elevates ZZS – a centrist party with populist appeal – to the position of leading political force in Latvia. That is despite being only third largest in the parliament, behind Unity and the pro-Russian Harmony party, which is traditionally ostracised by other leading forces.
If the coalition is finally built, ZZS will take the position of the prime minister as well as five ministries: finance, agriculture, defence, health, and transport. Unity will take over five portfolios, with the deputy prime minister also holding the ministry of economy. The junior partner National Alliance will have three ministers.
Related Articles
Estonian banks see €368mn profit in Q1 2025
Commercial banks in Estonia earned a combined profit of €368mn in the first quarter of 2025, down from €444mn a year earlier but up from €291mn in the previous quarter, according to Eesti Pank, ... more
Poland’s Orlen signs deal to supply Ukraine with LNG
Ukraine’s Naftogaz will purchase 100mn cubic metres of LNG from Poland’s Orlen, Ukraine’s biggest state-owned energy firm announced on March 7. The LNG will be transported from cargoes ... more
Swedbank Estonia CEO says Lithuania's bank taxes spooked investors' and foreign banks’ interest
Olavi Lepp, CEO of Swedbank’s Estonian branch, stated that Lithuania’s recently imposed temporary bank solidarity levy has dampened interest among new banks and foreign investors in the ... more
Most Read
-
Putin to skip Rio BRICS summit over ICC warrant as Xi signals no-show
15 days ago
-
Turkey yet to prove rare earth deposit has suggested “giant” potential despite reported processing talks with China
10 months ago
-
Uproar in Mongolia as development bank reveals scale of risky loans and NPLs
3 years ago