RIGA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations on Latvia's next five-party government coalition have been going better than expected, prime minister-designate Janis Bordans of the New Conservative Party told reporters on Monday following a meeting with potential coalition partners.
During the meeting at the cabinet of ministers' house in Riga, the five political parties managed to reach an agreement on the priorities of Latvia's would-be government.
They included the rule of law, abolition of the current green energy subsidization system, reducing social inequality, education reforms and health reforms, demographic issues, municipal reform, as well as financial stability and security.
Latvian public television reported that talks were already under way on the distribution of ministerial portfolios in the Bordans-led government.
According to this report, Bordans' New Conservative Party would claim the office of prime minister, as well as the portfolios of finance, interior, as well as education and science minister.
The KPV LV party might receive the portfolios of agriculture, economics and transport ministers.
The liberal alliance For Development/For has been offered the portfolios of environmental protection and regional development, health and welfare ministers.
The center-right New Unity party would get the portfolios of justice and foreign ministers. That would leave the right-wing National Alliance in control of the ministries of culture and defense.
After four weeks of not very successful talks on Latvia's next government, which followed Oct. 6 parliamentary elections, President Raimonds Vejonis on Nov. 7 tasked Bordans with forming a coalition government by Nov. 21.
