Latvia: Parties in Riga City Council continue coalition talks

Latvian capital Riga’s acting mayor, Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity), has invited all political groups in the current ruling coalition in the Riga City Council for talks to form a new coalition on 25 July 2023, LETA reports. Kirsis suggested that the talks could be held either with each political group individually or with all groups together. The coalition partners disagree on which political parties have the right to propose candidates for mayor and on the number of deputy mayor posts. Kirsis said that New Unity, National Alliance, the Latvian Association of Regions (LRA), and Code for Riga did not want new elections, which could favour Latvia First and For Stability, LSM reports. He blamed the Progressives for leading the situation to an impasse.