RIGA — Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way, a center-right political union with 10 seats in Parliament, has announced it will extend its support to the minority government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis until October’s elections.

It was not clear whether the party would join the government and take control of up to three ministerial positions, but party leader Ainars Šlesers, who is also deputy mayor of Riga, pledged the necessary support after meeting with [private_supervisor]Dombrovskis.

“We voted for this government, and will continue supporting in the future, so it can count on our support in the Saeima,” he told reporters Monday, adding that he would give a final answer to formal participation in the coalition — i.e., taking up ministerial posts — by April 12.

The announcement is a reversal of the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way’s previous stance, which was to issue an ultimatum to the government to reduce the number of ministries from 14 to eight or nine. Dombrovskis rejected the idea.

Crucially, the decision solidifies the minority government’s tenuous hold on power and all but confirms that there will be no political upheaval in Latvia priority to parliamentary elections this fall. This will assuage international creditors and investors concerned about the recent departure of the People’s Party from the ruling coalition, leaving Dombrovskis’ Cabinet with only 47 seats in the 100-member legislature.

Other parties, such as the center-left Harmony Center and the People’s Party, have also said they would back the government on key issues and not attempt to topple it.

Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way party, which previous Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis is a member, has seen its rating wallow beneath the 5 percent barrier and might see a chance to join the government, however unpopular, as a chance to boost its outlook in October.

For his part, Dombrovskis on Monday issued a number of priorities for the government as it heads into the final six months before election.

“The short-term plan is very simple — to strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness, to step up exports and create new jobs through this,” Dombrovskis told the press.

Measures aimed at facilitating this include a competition supervision system, a law of micro-businesses, and various amendments to the laws on commerce and insolvency. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]Dombrovskis.

“We voted for this government, and will continue supporting in the future, so it can count on our support in the Saeima,” he told reporters Monday, adding that he would give a final answer to formal participation in the coalition — i.e., taking up ministerial posts — by April 12.

The announcement is a reversal of the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way’s previous stance, which was to issue an ultimatum to the government to reduce the number of ministries from 14 to eight or nine. Dombrovskis rejected the idea.

Crucially, the decision solidifies the minority government’s tenuous hold on power and all but confirms that there will be no political upheaval in Latvia priority to parliamentary elections this fall. This will assuage international creditors and investors concerned about the recent departure of the People’s Party from the ruling coalition, leaving Dombrovskis’ Cabinet with only 47 seats in the 100-member legislature.

Other parties, such as the center-left Harmony Center and the People’s Party, have also said they would back the government on key issues and not attempt to topple it.

Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way party, which previous Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis is a member, has seen its rating wallow beneath the 5 percent barrier and might see a chance to join the government, however unpopular, as a chance to boost its outlook in October.

For his part, Dombrovskis on Monday issued a number of priorities for the government as it heads into the final six months before election.

“The short-term plan is very simple — to strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness, to step up exports and create new jobs through this,” Dombrovskis told the press.

Measures aimed at facilitating this include a competition supervision system, a law of micro-businesses, and various amendments to the laws on commerce and insolvency. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]Dombrovskis.

“We voted for this government, and will continue supporting in the future, so it can count on our support in the Saeima,” he told reporters Monday, adding that he would give a final answer to formal participation in the coalition — i.e., taking up ministerial posts — by April 12.

The announcement is a reversal of the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way’s previous stance, which was to issue an ultimatum to the government to reduce the number of ministries from 14 to eight or nine. Dombrovskis rejected the idea.

Crucially, the decision solidifies the minority government’s tenuous hold on power and all but confirms that there will be no political upheaval in Latvia priority to parliamentary elections this fall. This will assuage international creditors and investors concerned about the recent departure of the People’s Party from the ruling coalition, leaving Dombrovskis’ Cabinet with only 47 seats in the 100-member legislature.

Other parties, such as the center-left Harmony Center and the People’s Party, have also said they would back the government on key issues and not attempt to topple it.

Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way party, which previous Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis is a member, has seen its rating wallow beneath the 5 percent barrier and might see a chance to join the government, however unpopular, as a chance to boost its outlook in October.

For his part, Dombrovskis on Monday issued a number of priorities for the government as it heads into the final six months before election.

“The short-term plan is very simple — to strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness, to step up exports and create new jobs through this,” Dombrovskis told the press.

Measures aimed at facilitating this include a competition supervision system, a law of micro-businesses, and various amendments to the laws on commerce and insolvency. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]Dombrovskis.

“We voted for this government, and will continue supporting in the future, so it can count on our support in the Saeima,” he told reporters Monday, adding that he would give a final answer to formal participation in the coalition — i.e., taking up ministerial posts — by April 12.

The announcement is a reversal of the Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way’s previous stance, which was to issue an ultimatum to the government to reduce the number of ministries from 14 to eight or nine. Dombrovskis rejected the idea.

Crucially, the decision solidifies the minority government’s tenuous hold on power and all but confirms that there will be no political upheaval in Latvia priority to parliamentary elections this fall. This will assuage international creditors and investors concerned about the recent departure of the People’s Party from the ruling coalition, leaving Dombrovskis’ Cabinet with only 47 seats in the 100-member legislature.

Other parties, such as the center-left Harmony Center and the People’s Party, have also said they would back the government on key issues and not attempt to topple it.

Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way party, which previous Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis is a member, has seen its rating wallow beneath the 5 percent barrier and might see a chance to join the government, however unpopular, as a chance to boost its outlook in October.

For his part, Dombrovskis on Monday issued a number of priorities for the government as it heads into the final six months before election.

“The short-term plan is very simple — to strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness, to step up exports and create new jobs through this,” Dombrovskis told the press.

Measures aimed at facilitating this include a competition supervision system, a law of micro-businesses, and various amendments to the laws on commerce and insolvency. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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