RIGA — Inguna Sudraba, Latvia’s auditor general placated media speculation Friday that she was joining forces with the center-left Harmony Center Party, and denied that she was planning on running for a parliament seat at all.

Sudraba enjoys widespread trust in Latvian society, in particular for her scathing attacks on politicians, the Parex Bank bailout, and the current anti-crisis program. Statements she made in January about being ready to enter politics were widely reported, but now she appears to be backing off that.

“I know that I’m no candidate and am not planning to be a candidate, I have not promised anyone anything and I am not going to promise,” Sudraba said.

Sudraba said she would only join a new party and that she had already rejected an offer to join the newly formed Unity faction, a group of nationalist center-right parties.

“If I were to take on responsibility or some kind of post, then only with people whom I trust. This is possible only after forming a new political force with people who are trusted, and if their words match their deeds.”

If she did run, political scientist Ivars Ijabs told TVNet that Sudraba would be a strong candidate for the prime minister’ post and that she could use her popularity to facilitate Latvia’s recovery.

“But it would be difficult to consolidate political forces that would nominate Sudraba for the premier’s post since all parties will have their own candidates,” Ijabs added.

— Baltic Reports reporter James Dahl contributed to this article.