Analytics, Latvia, Legislation

Ivars Godmanis.

The People's Party Chairman Mareks Seglins told reporters today that, in the given situation, a government is needed that would have more support from Saeima and the people, reports LETA.

The Union of Greens and Farmers parliamentary group chairman Augusts Brigmanis also stressed that there is a government crisis, which means that a new government must be formed.

Seglins and Brigmanis told reporters that a new government must be set up in a week's time. The talks on forming a new government will be held with all the political parties represented in Saeima, except For Human Rights In United Latvia.

As a result, a larger coalition will be formed that will have the support of more than 51 Saeima members, added Seglins.

Seglins did not reply whether a candidate for the premier has already been agreed upon.

For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK representatives told reporters after the coalition meeting that they could do nothing but watch what will happen now that the two key ruling coalition parties have called on the premier to step down.

As already reported, the political situation in Latvia aggravated in the past few weeks.

After the ruling coalition decided on February 13 that it would not carry on with Godmanis' government reorganization plan, President Valdis Zatlers said that he had lost confidence in Godmanis. Zatlers said that Godmanis' opinion of his own government revamp strategy had changed radically in just three days.

During a meeting with Godmanis on February 16, Zatlers gave the government several tasks, one of which was to implement the government reorganization plan offered by the People's Party.

However, several ruling coalition parties had objections to the People's Party proposals, which further escalated the political uncertainty.

The government of Godmanis was voted in by Saeima on December 20, 2007.

The current government had to make a large number of important and controversial decisions, for instance, cutting budget expenditures and seeking international financial aid.

The ruling coalition is made up of four political forces: the People's Party, Union of Greens and Farmers, Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way and For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK. These same four parties also made up the previous government, led by Aigars Kalvitis (People's Party).

The government of Godmanis is the 33rd Cabinet of Ministers since the declaration of independence. 19 governments changed by 1940, eight of which were headed by former Latvian prime minister and self-appointed President Karlis Ulmanis. Since 1990, Latvia has had 13 governments, three of which were headed by Andris Skele (People's Party).

Godmanis is the longest-serving premier of Latvia: he first held the office from May 7, 1990 to August 3, 1993.