RIGA – Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis’ minority government launched a series of talks with opposition parties to gauge the level of support it can count on as Latvia enters the turbulent waters of pre-election.

Opinions vary as to the challenges that the center-right government will face now that it has been deprived of its majority in parliament. Many analysts feel, however, that Dombrovskis will have a much easier job of [private_supervisor]managing the Cabinet and policy now that the recalcitrant People’s Party — who, in the prime minister’s own words, was his biggest headache — has exited the coalition.

Nonetheless, with only 47 seats in the Saeima, Dombrovskis is putting out feelers among the opposition. The left-wing Harmony Center, which controls 18 seats, said Friday that it was prepared to work together with the government.

The head of Harmony Center’s parliamentary group Janis Urbanovich told reporters, “We are ready to work in opposition, delegating our experts to help the government work.”

Urbanovich said Harmony Center wanted the government to begin working on the 2011 budget, while ruling out any strategic cooperation given the presence of nationalist parties such as For Fatherland and Freedom and Civil Union in the coalition.

The burning question is whether the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union, which has 10 seats in Parliament, would join the coalition. Party leader Ainārs Šlesers, who was currently abroad during the tumultuous departure of the People’s Party, was quoted as saying that the pro-business party would likely stay in the opposition but would support the government in important decisions.

The key will be to find ministers who will be supported by a parliamentary majority. That won’t be easy, and there’s a chance that the government could nominate non-aligned candidates. But before that can happen, ministers must first agree what to do with the five ministries themselves. Already one, the Ministry for Regional Affairs, has been abolished. Others, such as the health and welfare ministries, might be merged.

In a surprising move, culture minister Ints Dālderis announced he would leave the People’s Party in a bid to keep his post, which observers say is crucial given the ministry is spearheading the National Library project.

“A lot has been done in the past year,” Dālderis told Latvian Television on Friday. “Despite all the huge budget cuts I have managed to ensure that nothing has been shut down, everything works… I feel that it would not be right to leave the culture industry at this moment, only few months before the elections. It is necessary to keep working.”

Economy minister Artis Kampars said the process of finding new ministers would take one week. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]managing the Cabinet and policy now that the recalcitrant People’s Party — who, in the prime minister’s own words, was his biggest headache — has exited the coalition.

Nonetheless, with only 47 seats in the Saeima, Dombrovskis is putting out feelers among the opposition. The left-wing Harmony Center, which controls 18 seats, said Friday that it was prepared to work together with the government.

The head of Harmony Center’s parliamentary group Janis Urbanovich told reporters, “We are ready to work in opposition, delegating our experts to help the government work.”

Urbanovich said Harmony Center wanted the government to begin working on the 2011 budget, while ruling out any strategic cooperation given the presence of nationalist parties such as For Fatherland and Freedom and Civil Union in the coalition.

The burning question is whether the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union, which has 10 seats in Parliament, would join the coalition. Party leader Ainārs Šlesers, who was currently abroad during the tumultuous departure of the People’s Party, was quoted as saying that the pro-business party would likely stay in the opposition but would support the government in important decisions.

The key will be to find ministers who will be supported by a parliamentary majority. That won’t be easy, and there’s a chance that the government could nominate non-aligned candidates. But before that can happen, ministers must first agree what to do with the five ministries themselves. Already one, the Ministry for Regional Affairs, has been abolished. Others, such as the health and welfare ministries, might be merged.

In a surprising move, culture minister Ints Dālderis announced he would leave the People’s Party in a bid to keep his post, which observers say is crucial given the ministry is spearheading the National Library project.

“A lot has been done in the past year,” Dālderis told Latvian Television on Friday. “Despite all the huge budget cuts I have managed to ensure that nothing has been shut down, everything works… I feel that it would not be right to leave the culture industry at this moment, only few months before the elections. It is necessary to keep working.”

Economy minister Artis Kampars said the process of finding new ministers would take one week. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]managing the Cabinet and policy now that the recalcitrant People’s Party — who, in the prime minister’s own words, was his biggest headache — has exited the coalition.

Nonetheless, with only 47 seats in the Saeima, Dombrovskis is putting out feelers among the opposition. The left-wing Harmony Center, which controls 18 seats, said Friday that it was prepared to work together with the government.

The head of Harmony Center’s parliamentary group Janis Urbanovich told reporters, “We are ready to work in opposition, delegating our experts to help the government work.”

Urbanovich said Harmony Center wanted the government to begin working on the 2011 budget, while ruling out any strategic cooperation given the presence of nationalist parties such as For Fatherland and Freedom and Civil Union in the coalition.

The burning question is whether the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union, which has 10 seats in Parliament, would join the coalition. Party leader Ainārs Šlesers, who was currently abroad during the tumultuous departure of the People’s Party, was quoted as saying that the pro-business party would likely stay in the opposition but would support the government in important decisions.

The key will be to find ministers who will be supported by a parliamentary majority. That won’t be easy, and there’s a chance that the government could nominate non-aligned candidates. But before that can happen, ministers must first agree what to do with the five ministries themselves. Already one, the Ministry for Regional Affairs, has been abolished. Others, such as the health and welfare ministries, might be merged.

In a surprising move, culture minister Ints Dālderis announced he would leave the People’s Party in a bid to keep his post, which observers say is crucial given the ministry is spearheading the National Library project.

“A lot has been done in the past year,” Dālderis told Latvian Television on Friday. “Despite all the huge budget cuts I have managed to ensure that nothing has been shut down, everything works… I feel that it would not be right to leave the culture industry at this moment, only few months before the elections. It is necessary to keep working.”

Economy minister Artis Kampars said the process of finding new ministers would take one week. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]managing the Cabinet and policy now that the recalcitrant People’s Party — who, in the prime minister’s own words, was his biggest headache — has exited the coalition.

Nonetheless, with only 47 seats in the Saeima, Dombrovskis is putting out feelers among the opposition. The left-wing Harmony Center, which controls 18 seats, said Friday that it was prepared to work together with the government.

The head of Harmony Center’s parliamentary group Janis Urbanovich told reporters, “We are ready to work in opposition, delegating our experts to help the government work.”

Urbanovich said Harmony Center wanted the government to begin working on the 2011 budget, while ruling out any strategic cooperation given the presence of nationalist parties such as For Fatherland and Freedom and Civil Union in the coalition.

The burning question is whether the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union, which has 10 seats in Parliament, would join the coalition. Party leader Ainārs Šlesers, who was currently abroad during the tumultuous departure of the People’s Party, was quoted as saying that the pro-business party would likely stay in the opposition but would support the government in important decisions.

The key will be to find ministers who will be supported by a parliamentary majority. That won’t be easy, and there’s a chance that the government could nominate non-aligned candidates. But before that can happen, ministers must first agree what to do with the five ministries themselves. Already one, the Ministry for Regional Affairs, has been abolished. Others, such as the health and welfare ministries, might be merged.

In a surprising move, culture minister Ints Dālderis announced he would leave the People’s Party in a bid to keep his post, which observers say is crucial given the ministry is spearheading the National Library project.

“A lot has been done in the past year,” Dālderis told Latvian Television on Friday. “Despite all the huge budget cuts I have managed to ensure that nothing has been shut down, everything works… I feel that it would not be right to leave the culture industry at this moment, only few months before the elections. It is necessary to keep working.”

Economy minister Artis Kampars said the process of finding new ministers would take one week. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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