Latvian PM designate unveils plan for five-party coalition government

Latvia's prime minister designate Aldis Gobzems on Tuesday came up with his proposal regarding the distribution of ministerial posts in his cabinet, which according to his plan would include five political parties.

Earlier in the morning, Gobzems announced that he was terminating negotiations with the sixth potential partner, the liberal alliance For Development/For, which in his words had been "torpedoing" the government formation process.

According to Gobzems' plan, his KPV LV party would receive the office of prime minister, as well as the posts of finance and interior ministers.

The New Conservative Party, whose leader Janis Bordans tried and failed to form a government in November, would be put in charge of the transport, education and science, health and justice ministries.

The right-wing National Alliance has been offered the posts of environmental protection and regional development minister, welfare minister and culture minister. The centrist Greens and Farmers Union would be represented in the Gobzems-led cabinet with the ministers of agriculture and defense. The center-right New Unity party would get the portfolios of economics and foreign ministers.

The political parties participating in the negotiations on Latvia's next government have yet to formulate their response to Gobzems' proposal. The New Conservative Party has so far been insisting on leaving the Greens and Farmers Union in opposition, and its response might prove decisive for Gobzems' chances of forming the five-party cabinet.

"I am confident that the New Conservative Party will act in national interests, that it will not draw any red lines and will accept the Greens and Farmers Union's involvement in the government," Gobzems told journalists following Tuesday's talks.