RIGA — The new political movement For a Good Latvia (Par labu Latviju), dominated by entrepreneurs such as the founder of the Lido chain, decided to join forces with the People’s Party and Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way union tandem and two regional parties from Ogre and Rēzekne for the fall election.

At a party congress on Saturday the [private_supervisor]merger decision was agreed upon, and former President Guntis Ulmanis, the grandnephew of prewar Latvian dictator Kārlis Ulmanis who was deposed by the occupying Soviet Union, was elected the new party chairman.

In a speech at the congress, Ulmanis promised that the association would focus on solving Latvia’s problems as opposed to criticism the current government, of which the People’s Party was formerly a coalition member.

“This movement is not so simple as constant whining, criticizing and commenting but we’ll go with knowledge, strength, emotions and patriotism to work,” Ulmanis said. “In this situation, we are not convinced that the personal ‘I’ am as important as the state.”

As promised the new association’s platform will be pro-business, promising no further tax increases like those implemented by the Dombrovskis government, a shift in tax policy to encourage the establishment of new companies, tax credits for new hires and vowing to repeal an IMF-sanctioned policy of not establishing new private-public ventures and spend more money promoting investing in Latvia abroad.

Ulmanis: Šķēle, Šlesers won’t bring corruption

In a press conference held after the congress, Ulmanis asserted that the new association would not be dominated by business magnates Andris Šķēle, a former prime minister and head of the People’s Party, and Ainārs Šlesers, deputy mayor of Riga and LPP/LC head, saying that he would not be their “mannequin.”

Ulmanis acknowledged the crony capitalism accusations and past corruption scandals involving Šķēle and Šlesers, but said that the they’ve turned a clean slate.

“I am not involved with Šķēle and Šlesers in any kind of business deal, I am doing this for the good of Latvia,” Ulmanis told reporters.

In an interview with TV3 later that weekend, Ulmanis said, “these people [Šķēle and Šlesers] are ready to mend … I believe they have learned from their mistakes.”

Another prominent member of the association is Andrejs Ēķis, the Neatkarigie Nacionalie Mediji owner who has been under investigation for graft in the mishandled digitalization of Latvian television.

Will the polls change?

It’s unclear how the new association will change voter’s minds. So far both the People’s Party and LPP/LC have performed sluggishly in polls, under the 5 percent threshold for Saeima representation despite the large amount of of the People’s Party members currently seated. The merger of Šķēle and Šlesers under (AŠ)² had little affect on their poll results, as the left-wing Harmony Center and anti-corruption Unity coalition have stayed atop the polls for several months. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]merger decision was agreed upon, and former President Guntis Ulmanis, the grandnephew of prewar Latvian dictator Kārlis Ulmanis who was deposed by the occupying Soviet Union, was elected the new party chairman.

In a speech at the congress, Ulmanis promised that the association would focus on solving Latvia’s problems as opposed to criticism the current government, of which the People’s Party was formerly a coalition member.

“This movement is not so simple as constant whining, criticizing and commenting but we’ll go with knowledge, strength, emotions and patriotism to work,” Ulmanis said. “In this situation, we are not convinced that the personal ‘I’ am as important as the state.”

As promised the new association’s platform will be pro-business, promising no further tax increases like those implemented by the Dombrovskis government, a shift in tax policy to encourage the establishment of new companies, tax credits for new hires and vowing to repeal an IMF-sanctioned policy of not establishing new private-public ventures and spend more money promoting investing in Latvia abroad.

Ulmanis: Šķēle, Šlesers won’t bring corruption

In a press conference held after the congress, Ulmanis asserted that the new association would not be dominated by business magnates Andris Šķēle, a former prime minister and head of the People’s Party, and Ainārs Šlesers, deputy mayor of Riga and LPP/LC head, saying that he would not be their “mannequin.”

Ulmanis acknowledged the crony capitalism accusations and past corruption scandals involving Šķēle and Šlesers, but said that the they’ve turned a clean slate.

“I am not involved with Šķēle and Šlesers in any kind of business deal, I am doing this for the good of Latvia,” Ulmanis told reporters.

In an interview with TV3 later that weekend, Ulmanis said, “these people [Šķēle and Šlesers] are ready to mend … I believe they have learned from their mistakes.”

Another prominent member of the association is Andrejs Ēķis, the Neatkarigie Nacionalie Mediji owner who has been under investigation for graft in the mishandled digitalization of Latvian television.

Will the polls change?

It’s unclear how the new association will change voter’s minds. So far both the People’s Party and LPP/LC have performed sluggishly in polls, under the 5 percent threshold for Saeima representation despite the large amount of of the People’s Party members currently seated. The merger of Šķēle and Šlesers under (AŠ)² had little affect on their poll results, as the left-wing Harmony Center and anti-corruption Unity coalition have stayed atop the polls for several months. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]merger decision was agreed upon, and former President Guntis Ulmanis, the grandnephew of prewar Latvian dictator Kārlis Ulmanis who was deposed by the occupying Soviet Union, was elected the new party chairman.

In a speech at the congress, Ulmanis promised that the association would focus on solving Latvia’s problems as opposed to criticism the current government, of which the People’s Party was formerly a coalition member.

“This movement is not so simple as constant whining, criticizing and commenting but we’ll go with knowledge, strength, emotions and patriotism to work,” Ulmanis said. “In this situation, we are not convinced that the personal ‘I’ am as important as the state.”

As promised the new association’s platform will be pro-business, promising no further tax increases like those implemented by the Dombrovskis government, a shift in tax policy to encourage the establishment of new companies, tax credits for new hires and vowing to repeal an IMF-sanctioned policy of not establishing new private-public ventures and spend more money promoting investing in Latvia abroad.

Ulmanis: Šķēle, Šlesers won’t bring corruption

In a press conference held after the congress, Ulmanis asserted that the new association would not be dominated by business magnates Andris Šķēle, a former prime minister and head of the People’s Party, and Ainārs Šlesers, deputy mayor of Riga and LPP/LC head, saying that he would not be their “mannequin.”

Ulmanis acknowledged the crony capitalism accusations and past corruption scandals involving Šķēle and Šlesers, but said that the they’ve turned a clean slate.

“I am not involved with Šķēle and Šlesers in any kind of business deal, I am doing this for the good of Latvia,” Ulmanis told reporters.

In an interview with TV3 later that weekend, Ulmanis said, “these people [Šķēle and Šlesers] are ready to mend … I believe they have learned from their mistakes.”

Another prominent member of the association is Andrejs Ēķis, the Neatkarigie Nacionalie Mediji owner who has been under investigation for graft in the mishandled digitalization of Latvian television.

Will the polls change?

It’s unclear how the new association will change voter’s minds. So far both the People’s Party and LPP/LC have performed sluggishly in polls, under the 5 percent threshold for Saeima representation despite the large amount of of the People’s Party members currently seated. The merger of Šķēle and Šlesers under (AŠ)² had little affect on their poll results, as the left-wing Harmony Center and anti-corruption Unity coalition have stayed atop the polls for several months. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]merger decision was agreed upon, and former President Guntis Ulmanis, the grandnephew of prewar Latvian dictator Kārlis Ulmanis who was deposed by the occupying Soviet Union, was elected the new party chairman.

In a speech at the congress, Ulmanis promised that the association would focus on solving Latvia’s problems as opposed to criticism the current government, of which the People’s Party was formerly a coalition member.

“This movement is not so simple as constant whining, criticizing and commenting but we’ll go with knowledge, strength, emotions and patriotism to work,” Ulmanis said. “In this situation, we are not convinced that the personal ‘I’ am as important as the state.”

As promised the new association’s platform will be pro-business, promising no further tax increases like those implemented by the Dombrovskis government, a shift in tax policy to encourage the establishment of new companies, tax credits for new hires and vowing to repeal an IMF-sanctioned policy of not establishing new private-public ventures and spend more money promoting investing in Latvia abroad.

Ulmanis: Šķēle, Šlesers won’t bring corruption

In a press conference held after the congress, Ulmanis asserted that the new association would not be dominated by business magnates Andris Šķēle, a former prime minister and head of the People’s Party, and Ainārs Šlesers, deputy mayor of Riga and LPP/LC head, saying that he would not be their “mannequin.”

Ulmanis acknowledged the crony capitalism accusations and past corruption scandals involving Šķēle and Šlesers, but said that the they’ve turned a clean slate.

“I am not involved with Šķēle and Šlesers in any kind of business deal, I am doing this for the good of Latvia,” Ulmanis told reporters.

In an interview with TV3 later that weekend, Ulmanis said, “these people [Šķēle and Šlesers] are ready to mend … I believe they have learned from their mistakes.”

Another prominent member of the association is Andrejs Ēķis, the Neatkarigie Nacionalie Mediji owner who has been under investigation for graft in the mishandled digitalization of Latvian television.

Will the polls change?

It’s unclear how the new association will change voter’s minds. So far both the People’s Party and LPP/LC have performed sluggishly in polls, under the 5 percent threshold for Saeima representation despite the large amount of of the People’s Party members currently seated. The merger of Šķēle and Šlesers under (AŠ)² had little affect on their poll results, as the left-wing Harmony Center and anti-corruption Unity coalition have stayed atop the polls for several months. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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