After the consultations with the political parties, the President of Latvia stated that he would continue assessing the nominated Aldis Gobzems, Jānis Bordāns, and Artis Pabriks for the Prime Minister. The President of Latvia expects that an agreement will be reached on the majority support to one of these candidates during the subsequent consultation of the political parties.
“To create the preconditions for the national development and long-term growth, the formation of a stable, competent, and capable government is in the interests of the entire society, which would enjoy the majority support of the 13th Saeima. I expect responsible and decisive action from the political parties to agree about a potential coalition and the objectives to be met as soon as possible,” emphasised Raimonds Vējonis.
The President of Latvia will nominate only such a candidate for the post of Prime Minister, about whose ability to obtain permission to access state secrets, will not be doubted. To find out the possibility of obtaining permission to access state secrets, the President of Latvia invited all three potential candidates for the Prime Minister to submit the necessary documents during the meeting.
President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis indicated the following key issues during his talks with the political parties:
- Constant national Euro-Atlantic direction;
- Strengthening security by channelling at least 2% of GDP to defence needs;
- Readiness to ensure the continuity and succession of the reforms already implemented in the areas of education, health, and taxation, and the readiness to decide on the implementation of new necessary reforms;
- Ability to draw up a balanced state budget;
- Strengthening the rule of law, among other things improving the functioning of the judiciary, and further streamlining of the insolvency legislation. Maintaining the principle of separation of powers is as important in the interests of Latvia’s internal and external security. Therefore the desire to concentrate state security institutions is not supported.
- Strengthening public media, since independent and professional media are the foundation of democracy and our national security;
- Strengthening the security of the financial system, including the improvement of the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing system.
During the meeting, the President of Latvia informed the representatives of the political parties that he would re-submit the draft law on the non-citizen children to the new convocation of the Saeima and would maintain his initiative on good laws.
According to the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia, the President of Latvia will be able to issue a decree on inviting a new Prime Minister only after the existing Cabinet of Ministers will be resigned after the first meeting of the newly elected Saeima on 6 November 2018.