Latvia, Legislation

Nils Usakovs.

37 councilmen voted for Usakovs, whilst 21 city councilmen voted for the other candidate – Girts Valdis Kristovskis.

One councilman did not participate in the vote, whilst the voting slip of another councilman was deemed invalid.

According to LETA archives, Usakovs has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Latvia, and a master's degree in economics from the University of Southern Denmark.

Usakovs has previously worked at the Russian television station ''NTV'', ''Latvian Television'', as well as the Russian language newspapers ''Respublika'' and ''Telegraf''.

In 2006, Usakovs was voted into the 9th Saeima from Harmony Center, and later became the party's chairman.

As reported, the Riga City Council coalition will be made up of two parties – Harmony Center and Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way. Harmony Center holds 26 of the 60 seats at the Riga City Council, whilst Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way has 12 seats. Thus, these two parties form a stable majority.

Civic Union and New Era will be in the opposition in the city council, holding 14 and eight seats, respectively.

Riga Vice Mayor will be Ainars Slesers.

Nikolajs Zaharovs will be the head of Harmony Center's group at the city council, Andris Ameriks will be the head of Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way's group, Girts Valdis Kristovskis will head Civic Union's group, whilst Edgars Jaunups will lead New Era's group.