The political party Unity is expected to call on all Latvian parties to join forces for Riga municipal election schedulled for next summer.

The national association All for Latvia!-TB/LNNK will most likely be first party to agree to the proposal. It already discussed such a possibility in its conference held last weekend.

“It is yet too early to speak about parties joining forces to create an alternative to Harmony Center,” Unity’s Secretary General Artis Kampars told Diena.

He stresses that parties still have to work on their offer so that Riga residents see that there can indeed be an alternative to Harmony Center, which is currently ruling in Riga.

Unity is set to address both its coalition partners – the national association and Zatlers Reform Party (ZRP). Kampars points out that they could also turn to the Latvian Farmers’ Union and the Latvian Green Party despite the still unclear intention to distance from the Greens and Farmers Union in the municipal election.

Latvian Green Party co-Chairman Viesturs Silenieks confirms to Diena that the party sticks to its announcement to run in the municipal election with its own list. The Saeima member Raimonds Vejonis could be their candidate for the post of Riga Mayor.

Also back in 2009 several parties emerged as leaders in Riga City Council only to quit it later when running for a seat in the parliament. The politicians include Ainars Slesers (LPP/LC) and Girts Valdis Kristovskis (Unity), but neither of them is in power today.

“It is a matter of debate,” says ZRP Chairman Valdis Zatlers, reminding that Riga municipal election is all about the fight among candidates willing to manage the city council.

“So we need to see whether we can find a powerful leader that can unite parties.”

Zatlers points out that Riga municipality must no longer be used as a source of enrichment and short-term goals. Instead, he proposes drafting a long-term development plan.

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