RIGA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Potential coalition partners on Wednesday voiced readiness for talks with Latvia's prime minister-designate Janis Bordans whom President Raimonds Vejonis tasked with forming the Baltic country's next government.
Bordans, who leads the New Conservative Party, told reporters he would start talks on his would-be cabinet with KPV LV party and the liberal alliance For Development/For!. Later, he is also expected to meet with the rightist National Alliance and the center-right New Unity parties as his intention is to form a five-party coalition, leaving the centrist Greens and Farmers Union, the leader of Latvia's current center-right coalition, and the leftist Harmony in opposition.
The prime minister-designate, who has been given until Nov. 21 to form his cabinet, is confident that two weeks is a sufficiently long period to accomplish the task.
For Development/For! representative Artis Pabriks told reporters that his party respected the president's choice. "We are ready for cooperation and an invitation to government formation talks, but first of all we want to see more detailed proposals for the new government declaration," Pabriks said.
However, Pabriks avoided answering a question about his readiness to join a Bordans-led government.
Previously, For Development/For! wanted the Greens and Farmers Union to also be included in the government coalition, but has now agreed to respect Bordans' position on the new coalition.
Aldis Gobzems, leader of KPV LV party, said he could now publicly declare his party's support for Bordans' would-be government.
Both Arvils Aseradens of New Unity and Raivis Dzintars of National Alliance said their parties were ready for constructive talks constructive on Latvia's new government. Dzintars said all parties were interested in reaching an agreement on the government formation as soon as possible and hoped Bordans' nomination will speed up the negotiations process.
Political parties that won mandates in Latvia's new parliament in the Oct. 6 election have been holding negotiations on a new government coalition for a month already but have not come to any agreements so far.
