New Saeima leadership takes shape: Edvards Smiltēns may return as speaker

The make-up of the new Saeima leadership is beginning to take shape. Latvian Television (LTV), citing several sources, reports that the post of speaker of the 15th Saeima could go to the outgoing Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns (AS), who already has experience in the role.

Candidates for other posts

Ināra Mūrniece (NA), who has long experience as speaker, could be put forward as a deputy speaker. Inese Lībiņa-Egnere (JV), who has previously served in the Saeima Presidium, may also take such a post. LTV reported that New Unity (JV) is considering other candidates for deputy speaker too, such as Ainars Latkovskis and Edmunds Jurēvics.

Antoņina Ņenaševa (P), currently deputy secretary of the 14th Saeima, and Linda Liepiņa (LPV) could be nominated as secretary and deputy secretary.

The Saeima Presidium directs the work of parliament. It has five members: the speaker, two deputy speakers, the secretary and the deputy secretary.

Forming the government

Prime ministerial candidate Andris Kulbergs (AS) told the news agency LETA that work on a draft of the new government's declaration continues. In his view, it is still too early to talk about specific coalition partners or the format of the next government. He stressed that parties must first agree on what the government will do, and only then on who will do it.

President Edgars Rinkēvičs, after consulting all the parties elected to the 15th Saeima, announced that Kulbergs should take on forming the new government. The president hopes to see significant progress in coalition talks by early November, and would like the government to be in place by 18 November.

In the elections to the 15th Saeima, the United List won decisively with 41 seats, making it the largest political force in the new parliament.