Four days before the deadline set by President Rinkevics, future Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs negotiated a rather broad ruling coalition, which will have as many as 69 mandates in the Saeima, that is, a constitutional majority!
The new government of Kulbergs is being formed by four political forces: 1) United List, 2) National Alliance, 3) Union of Greens and Farmers, and 4) New Unity.
Now it is a matter of dividing the ministerial portfolios among the politicians. Negotiations on the distribution of posts will continue today and even over the weekend. After all, the division of ministerial portfolios is always a politically sensitive matter.
Below is the forecast from the portal bb.lv.
Traditionally, the prime minister's party "receives" the post of Minister of Finance as well. According to rumors, the main "holder" of the budget pie may become Saeima deputy with extensive entrepreneurial experience Aiva Viksna (United List), who is currently working in the Saeima Budget Commission.
Most likely, the prime minister's party will want to obtain one of the security ministries – either the Ministry of Defense (in this case, the head of the Saeima Defense and Internal Affairs Commission Raimonds Bergmanis, who has previously led this ministry, may take charge), or the Ministry of the Interior (the candidate for the head of the Ministry of the Interior is Saeima deputy, former prime minister Maris Kucinskis).
However, it cannot be ruled out that in the end the post of Minister of Defense will still go to the National Alliance. The main candidate for this portfolio in this case is the head of the Saeima Commission Inara Murniece, who previously headed the Ministry of Defense in Karins' government.
Most likely, the National Alliance will want to gain control over the education sector before the elections. However, in order not to escalate the situation in society, the prime minister's party will take the Ministry of Education – the head of the Ministry of Education may be educator, Saeima deputy Cheslav Batnya. In return, the National Alliance will receive the portfolio of Minister of Culture – Saeima deputy Nauris Puntulis will return to this position.
It cannot be ruled out that another representative of the National Alliance – Janis Vitenbergs will return to the position of Minister of Communications. Although, perhaps, this post will go to the Union of Greens and Farmers (Uldis Augulis).
As for New Unity, this political force will most likely retain three portfolios from the previous government. Namely: Baiba Broka will remain the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Inese Libina-Egnere will remain the head of the Ministry of Justice. No one plans to "undermine" the position of the head of the Ministry of Health Hosam Abu Meri – it is too thankless a task to "manage" the healthcare system. Especially in the run-up to the elections!
New Unity will most likely lose the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, which was headed by Raimonds Chudars. But Chudars will not be left without a ministerial portfolio – he will return to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.
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