Latvia: Vilnis Kirsis elected new mayor of Riga

Latvia’s Riga City Council has elected New Unity’s Vilnis Kirsis as the capital city’s new mayor, LETA reports. Kirsis named street renovation, construction of new housing, and investment in education as his policy priorities. Kirsis served as acting mayor after the resignation of Martins Stakis, who represented the Progressives and Movement For, in early July 2023. The new coalition in the Riga City Council includes seven parties and some independent councillors. New Unity will chair three committees, while the other coalition partners will each head one committee. The city council will have two deputy mayors.