Šlesers: "Latvia First" ready to back a Kulberga government, but not alongside New Unity

The leadership of "Latvia First" is confident it will secure a place in the next Latvian government. Party leader Ainārs Šlesers said the party is ready to open negotiations with "Apvienotais saraksts", the party that won the most votes in the election, and to support a government led by its candidate for prime minister, Kulberga.

A condition for talks

At the same time, Šlesers has made clear his key condition: in his view, the party New Unity should not be part of the new governing coalition. This suggests that "Latvia First" intends to approach talks with "Apvienotais saraksts" in a way that would exclude the previous governing party from the list of potential coalition partners.

Ambitions extend to Riga

According to the television programme "Nekā personīga", the ambitions of Šlesers and his party are not limited to the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers. The politician has expressed determination to bring about a change of power at Riga City Council as well, pointing to a broader strategy of strengthening the party's influence both nationally and in the capital.

Negotiations on forming a new Latvian government are still ongoing, and the positions of various parties on potential coalition partners could still shift before a final agreement on the government's composition is reached.