RIGA — Riga Deputy Mayor Ainars Šlesers has said that a party consisting of prominent Latvian businesspeople will soon appear on the political arena, and that his own party will have to consider teaming up with the new force.

Šlesers told Latvia Radio in an interview Thursday morning that the new party would make itself known in a matter of weeks and would include many well-known entrepreneurs. He refused to [private_supervisor]name anyone, but he did describe the new party as a “broad movement” that his own party, Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, would have to consider aligning with.

“As party chairman I am prepared to support this movement,” Šlesers said.

The arrival of a new political party, one ostensibly with considerable resources, just seven months before national elections would shake up the political atmosphere. Currently only one new political force has emerged – the Unity party, and that is a merger of three existing parties.

Latvia’s business community is naturally disgruntled, even incensed, by the country’s political leadership and its handling of the economic crisis, and has felt marginalized from the decision-making processes. The rash of tax increases over the past year is, no doubt, one of the factors that tipped the scales and convinced businesspeople to join forces in an attempt to exert more political influence.

The fact that Šlesers announced the future party also speaks volumes. The Riga deputy mayor, who entered politics with a mandate to clean up an increasingly immoral society, has all but shed his former platform and become the voice of Latvian business.

In recent weeks he has hinted that Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, which is struggling in the polls, is prepared to merge with pro-business forces such as the People’s Party. Previously he has stated that his party would also cooperate with the center-left, pro-ethnic Russian integration Harmony Center in an attempt to win a majority of seats in parliament.

Last year the Harmony Center and Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way fared well in municipal elections and currently control the Riga City Council. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]name anyone, but he did describe the new party as a “broad movement” that his own party, Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, would have to consider aligning with.

“As party chairman I am prepared to support this movement,” Šlesers said.

The arrival of a new political party, one ostensibly with considerable resources, just seven months before national elections would shake up the political atmosphere. Currently only one new political force has emerged – the Unity party, and that is a merger of three existing parties.

Latvia’s business community is naturally disgruntled, even incensed, by the country’s political leadership and its handling of the economic crisis, and has felt marginalized from the decision-making processes. The rash of tax increases over the past year is, no doubt, one of the factors that tipped the scales and convinced businesspeople to join forces in an attempt to exert more political influence.

The fact that Šlesers announced the future party also speaks volumes. The Riga deputy mayor, who entered politics with a mandate to clean up an increasingly immoral society, has all but shed his former platform and become the voice of Latvian business.

In recent weeks he has hinted that Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, which is struggling in the polls, is prepared to merge with pro-business forces such as the People’s Party. Previously he has stated that his party would also cooperate with the center-left, pro-ethnic Russian integration Harmony Center in an attempt to win a majority of seats in parliament.

Last year the Harmony Center and Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way fared well in municipal elections and currently control the Riga City Council. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]name anyone, but he did describe the new party as a “broad movement” that his own party, Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, would have to consider aligning with.

“As party chairman I am prepared to support this movement,” Šlesers said.

The arrival of a new political party, one ostensibly with considerable resources, just seven months before national elections would shake up the political atmosphere. Currently only one new political force has emerged – the Unity party, and that is a merger of three existing parties.

Latvia’s business community is naturally disgruntled, even incensed, by the country’s political leadership and its handling of the economic crisis, and has felt marginalized from the decision-making processes. The rash of tax increases over the past year is, no doubt, one of the factors that tipped the scales and convinced businesspeople to join forces in an attempt to exert more political influence.

The fact that Šlesers announced the future party also speaks volumes. The Riga deputy mayor, who entered politics with a mandate to clean up an increasingly immoral society, has all but shed his former platform and become the voice of Latvian business.

In recent weeks he has hinted that Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, which is struggling in the polls, is prepared to merge with pro-business forces such as the People’s Party. Previously he has stated that his party would also cooperate with the center-left, pro-ethnic Russian integration Harmony Center in an attempt to win a majority of seats in parliament.

Last year the Harmony Center and Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way fared well in municipal elections and currently control the Riga City Council. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]name anyone, but he did describe the new party as a “broad movement” that his own party, Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, would have to consider aligning with.

“As party chairman I am prepared to support this movement,” Šlesers said.

The arrival of a new political party, one ostensibly with considerable resources, just seven months before national elections would shake up the political atmosphere. Currently only one new political force has emerged – the Unity party, and that is a merger of three existing parties.

Latvia’s business community is naturally disgruntled, even incensed, by the country’s political leadership and its handling of the economic crisis, and has felt marginalized from the decision-making processes. The rash of tax increases over the past year is, no doubt, one of the factors that tipped the scales and convinced businesspeople to join forces in an attempt to exert more political influence.

The fact that Šlesers announced the future party also speaks volumes. The Riga deputy mayor, who entered politics with a mandate to clean up an increasingly immoral society, has all but shed his former platform and become the voice of Latvian business.

In recent weeks he has hinted that Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, which is struggling in the polls, is prepared to merge with pro-business forces such as the People’s Party. Previously he has stated that his party would also cooperate with the center-left, pro-ethnic Russian integration Harmony Center in an attempt to win a majority of seats in parliament.

Last year the Harmony Center and Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way fared well in municipal elections and currently control the Riga City Council. [/private_subscription 1 year]

— This is a paid article. To subscribe or extend your subscription, click here.