RIGA — The largest member of Latvia’s ruling coalition, the People’s Party, has pulled out of the government, recalling its ministers after its partner New Era rebuked an economic recovery plan.

After Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, of the New Era Party, said that he will not sign the People’s Party’s economic rescue plan during a Wednesday morning interview on the television program “900 Seconds,” the coalition’s dominant party announced it was pulling out of the government that afternoon.

“We made the decision to leave because the prime minister did not give us a [private_supervisor]response of any substance to the points we raised,” Andris Šķēle, the People’s Party leader and a former prime minister said.

Šķēle said the People’s Party would pull out as it could not find a way to move ahead with coalition partners on addressing unemployment — Latvia’s jobless rate is above 20 percent and the highest in the European Union.

Despite its minority status, appears the coalition will not fall as the People’s Party promised not to try to topple the government and with elections just six months away a new government would have little time to accomplish any new policies or programs. Meanwhile the 2011 budget, which a government must pass or be dissolved, will not be moved on until after the October election. The withdrawal may put the People’s Party in a better position among voters as it helps disassociate itself with the unpopular government, which has been forced to implement painful austerity measures in order to consolidate finances after accepting an EU and IMF-led €7.5 billion bailout in 2008.

President Valdis Zatlers expressed his disappointment with the People’s Party’s decision, saying political instability could stall the beleaguered Baltic state’s anemic economic recovery.

“For my part I will continue to support the government because of its successful work is one of the essential preconditions for the country’s economic growth recovery,” Zatlers told the press.

The withdrawal leaves five minister positions open as culture minister Ints Dālderis, foreign minister Maris Riekstins, health minister Baiba Rozentāle, justice minister Mareks Segliņš and regional development and local government affairs minister Edgars Zalāns are all People’s Party members. Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era Party chairwoman said the coalition is offering the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union to join, but that party is already in talks to unite with the People’s Party. Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way leader and Riga Deputy Mayor Ainars Šlesers has also been an outspoken critic of the national government.

The People’s Party pullout leaves four parties left in the coalition — the Union of Greens and Farmers, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, Civic Union and New Era. The coalition has 47 seats out of the 100-seat Saeima. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]response of any substance to the points we raised,” Andris Šķēle, the People’s Party leader and a former prime minister said.

Šķēle said the People’s Party would pull out as it could not find a way to move ahead with coalition partners on addressing unemployment — Latvia’s jobless rate is above 20 percent and the highest in the European Union.

Despite its minority status, appears the coalition will not fall as the People’s Party promised not to try to topple the government and with elections just six months away a new government would have little time to accomplish any new policies or programs. Meanwhile the 2011 budget, which a government must pass or be dissolved, will not be moved on until after the October election. The withdrawal may put the People’s Party in a better position among voters as it helps disassociate itself with the unpopular government, which has been forced to implement painful austerity measures in order to consolidate finances after accepting an EU and IMF-led €7.5 billion bailout in 2008.

President Valdis Zatlers expressed his disappointment with the People’s Party’s decision, saying political instability could stall the beleaguered Baltic state’s anemic economic recovery.

“For my part I will continue to support the government because of its successful work is one of the essential preconditions for the country’s economic growth recovery,” Zatlers told the press.

The withdrawal leaves five minister positions open as culture minister Ints Dālderis, foreign minister Maris Riekstins, health minister Baiba Rozentāle, justice minister Mareks Segliņš and regional development and local government affairs minister Edgars Zalāns are all People’s Party members. Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era Party chairwoman said the coalition is offering the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union to join, but that party is already in talks to unite with the People’s Party. Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way leader and Riga Deputy Mayor Ainars Šlesers has also been an outspoken critic of the national government.

The People’s Party pullout leaves four parties left in the coalition — the Union of Greens and Farmers, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, Civic Union and New Era. The coalition has 47 seats out of the 100-seat Saeima. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]response of any substance to the points we raised,” Andris Šķēle, the People’s Party leader and a former prime minister said.

Šķēle said the People’s Party would pull out as it could not find a way to move ahead with coalition partners on addressing unemployment — Latvia’s jobless rate is above 20 percent and the highest in the European Union.

Despite its minority status, appears the coalition will not fall as the People’s Party promised not to try to topple the government and with elections just six months away a new government would have little time to accomplish any new policies or programs. Meanwhile the 2011 budget, which a government must pass or be dissolved, will not be moved on until after the October election. The withdrawal may put the People’s Party in a better position among voters as it helps disassociate itself with the unpopular government, which has been forced to implement painful austerity measures in order to consolidate finances after accepting an EU and IMF-led €7.5 billion bailout in 2008.

President Valdis Zatlers expressed his disappointment with the People’s Party’s decision, saying political instability could stall the beleaguered Baltic state’s anemic economic recovery.

“For my part I will continue to support the government because of its successful work is one of the essential preconditions for the country’s economic growth recovery,” Zatlers told the press.

The withdrawal leaves five minister positions open as culture minister Ints Dālderis, foreign minister Maris Riekstins, health minister Baiba Rozentāle, justice minister Mareks Segliņš and regional development and local government affairs minister Edgars Zalāns are all People’s Party members. Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era Party chairwoman said the coalition is offering the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union to join, but that party is already in talks to unite with the People’s Party. Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way leader and Riga Deputy Mayor Ainars Šlesers has also been an outspoken critic of the national government.

The People’s Party pullout leaves four parties left in the coalition — the Union of Greens and Farmers, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, Civic Union and New Era. The coalition has 47 seats out of the 100-seat Saeima. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]response of any substance to the points we raised,” Andris Šķēle, the People’s Party leader and a former prime minister said.

Šķēle said the People’s Party would pull out as it could not find a way to move ahead with coalition partners on addressing unemployment — Latvia’s jobless rate is above 20 percent and the highest in the European Union.

Despite its minority status, appears the coalition will not fall as the People’s Party promised not to try to topple the government and with elections just six months away a new government would have little time to accomplish any new policies or programs. Meanwhile the 2011 budget, which a government must pass or be dissolved, will not be moved on until after the October election. The withdrawal may put the People’s Party in a better position among voters as it helps disassociate itself with the unpopular government, which has been forced to implement painful austerity measures in order to consolidate finances after accepting an EU and IMF-led €7.5 billion bailout in 2008.

President Valdis Zatlers expressed his disappointment with the People’s Party’s decision, saying political instability could stall the beleaguered Baltic state’s anemic economic recovery.

“For my part I will continue to support the government because of its successful work is one of the essential preconditions for the country’s economic growth recovery,” Zatlers told the press.

The withdrawal leaves five minister positions open as culture minister Ints Dālderis, foreign minister Maris Riekstins, health minister Baiba Rozentāle, justice minister Mareks Segliņš and regional development and local government affairs minister Edgars Zalāns are all People’s Party members. Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era Party chairwoman said the coalition is offering the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union to join, but that party is already in talks to unite with the People’s Party. Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way leader and Riga Deputy Mayor Ainars Šlesers has also been an outspoken critic of the national government.

The People’s Party pullout leaves four parties left in the coalition — the Union of Greens and Farmers, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, Civic Union and New Era. The coalition has 47 seats out of the 100-seat Saeima. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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