On Tuesday, October 18, Zatlers Reform Party (ZRP), Unity and the national association All For Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (AFL-FF/LNNK) signed an agreement on the coalition, specifying the division of responsibilities between the political forces, also including deputies who had separated from ZRP.

Six of the former ZRP members will sign a cooperation agreement with ZRP to ensure a normal work process of the coalition, indicates Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister and the head of the coalition negotiations.

The new agreement stipulates that Unity and the group of independent ZRP deputies will be in charge of the Transport Ministry and the Saeima Speaker’s post.

Dombrovskis points out that the candidate to the Transport Minister’s post will not be changed. Previously, Aivis Ronis was unofficially mentioned as the candidate to this post.

Klavs Olsteins, leader of the ZRP’s independent group of deputies, noted that attaining certain seats in the government is not in the group’s priorities and by agreeing to sign such a document it has clearly voiced support to the government and Dombrovskis as the next Prime Minister. Olsteins emphasizes that these deputies continue to support ZRP and the values included in its platform. However, they will work independently at the Saeima.

Olsteins promised that the deputies’ work will be predictable and clear.

In turn, asked whether it will not be difficult for him to cooperate with the independent group of deputies from his party, Valdis Zatlers, leader of ZRP, says that one of the most professional governments has been set up during this month and it is very important to start the work.

Raivis Dzintars, leader of AFL-FF/LNNK, admits that the coalition-forming process is very fragile and it was barely created at all. Yet, AFL-FF/LNNK is constructively working and is seeking stability.

As reported, Klavs Olsteins, Elina Silina, Gunars Rusins, Janis Upenieks, Viktors Valainis and Janis Junkurs quit ZRP.

Besides the independent group of ZRP deputies, the coalition has 50 votes, however, their support would ensure the government 56 votes in the Parliament.

On October 14, the new coalition agreed on dividing the areas of responsibilities at the government.

Under the previous agreement, ZRP will run the Education and Science Ministry, which will get in addition a function of society’s integration through the Latvian language. This function will be taken over from the Culture Ministry. ZRP will also get the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Economy and Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministries.

Unity will attain the Prime Minister’s post, as well as Finance, Welfare, Defence, Agricvulture and Health Ministries.

While the national association AFL-FF/LNNK will run the Culture Ministry, maintaining the national identity policy, as well as the Justice Ministry and parliamentarian secretaries’ posts at the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry and Health Ministry.

The agreement on October 14 foresees that the Transport Minister will be non-partisan and ZRP and Unity will be jointly responsible for the Transport Ministry. However, today’s agreement provides that Unity and the independent group of deputies from ZRP will be in charge of it.

Ref: 103.106.106.040