Latvia: United List rejects PM-designate’s coalition offer

Latvia’s United List has rejected an offer from prime minister-designate Evika Silina to form a four-party coalition government with New Unity, the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), and the Progressives, LSM reports. Edgars Tavars, head of the United List’s parliamentary group, said that his group would propose another coalition model instead, with Silina still as prime minister. Earlier, the United List’s Edvards Smiltens, who serves as speaker of the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, said that Silina’s proposal failed to ensure that the former mayor of Ventspils, Aivars Lembergs, would not be able to exert influence on ZZS and the government, LETA reports. Lembergs, who is under US sanctions, is serving prison time for corruption. Several United List leaders left ZZS because of the latter’s association with Lembergs.