Latvia’s prime minister nominee, MP Andris Kulbergs of the opposition party alliance, United List, has announced the composition of his incoming four-party coalition government, LSM reports. The Kulbergs cabinet would have 14 male and just 2 female ministers. The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, will vote on approving the government on 28 May 2026.
Besides Kulbergs as prime minister, the United List’s ministerial candidates include former prime minister, MP Maris Kucinskis, for minister of finance, MP Edvards Smiltens for minister of justice, and leader of the United List’s parliamentary group, MP Edgars Tavars, for minister of smart administration and regional development.
The chairwoman of the nationalist opposition party, the National Alliance, MP Ilze Indriksone, would serve as minister of education in the new coalition government. The party’s other ministerial candidates are MP Nauris Puntulis for minister of culture, MP Janis Dombrava for minister of interior, and MP Janis Vitenbergs for minister of climate and energy.
Outgoing Prime Minister Evika Silina’s party alliance, New Unity, has nominated Baiba Braze to continue as foreign minister and Hosams Abu Meri as health minister, while current Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis would become minister of transport. New Unity’s candidate for defence minister is Colonel Raivis Melnis, head of the operational planning department of the Joint Headquarters of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS).
Meanwhile, New Unity’s current coalition partner, the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), would keep almost all of its ministerial posts: Daiga Mierina would continue as parliamentary speaker, Viktors Valainis as minister of economy, and Reinis Uzulnieks as minister of welfare. MP Uldis Augulis would hold the post of minister of agriculture, replacing ZZS leader Armands Krauze, who is suspected of abuse of office.
If the parliament approves the new government, only two parties will remain in opposition: The social-democratic Progressives and the right-wing populist Latvia First (LPV), LSM reported. In addition, the parliament will have several independent MPs. The new ruling coalition plans to govern the country until the next parliamentary elections in October 2026.