Latvia: PM Karins confirms intention to form new government

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) announced his intention to end the current government coalition and form a new one, LSM reports. He said that New Unity’s current coalition partners, the National Alliance and the United List, had rejected his proposals for a ministerial reshuffle and revised policy priorities. Karins said that he would continue coalition talks with the opposition Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and Progressives. However, the goal was to form the widest possible coalition, the Prime Minister added. Both the Progressives and ZZS said that it was too early to talk about the distribution of ministerial portfolios. However, Karins assumed that he would continue to head the new coalition government as well. Together, New Unity, ZZS, and the Progressives have 52 MPs in Latvia’s 100-seat parliament, the Saeima.