RIGA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A new agreement between Latvia's left-wing Harmony party and Honor to Serve Riga (GKR) was signed on Monday to reestablish their coalition in Riga hours before the city council was due to elect a new mayor for the Latvian capital, representatives of the two political parties announced to reporters.
Thanks to the new coalition accord, acting Riga mayor Olegs Burovs (GKR) who runs for the office of Riga mayor, is likely to win the vote safely, with 35 of the city council's 60 members pledging their support.
In addition to 11 GKR members and 17 Harmony members, four councilors of the Faction of Independent Councilmen and three members of For Riga Bloc are also going to support Burovs' election as Riga mayor.
Meanwhile, opposition candidate Viesturs Zeps of For Development of Latvia party can only hope for 12 votes in the Riga mayor election. Apart from his own party, he also has the backing of the right-wing National Alliance, whereas other opposition parties -Unity and the New Conservative Party - insist on calling a snap municipal election in Riga.
The city council has to elect a new Riga mayor by Aug. 19. If the vote fails to produce a new mayor, a procedure can be started to dissolve the current city council and call a snap election in the Latvian capital.
The office of Riga mayor has been vacant since June 21 when the city council ousted Dainis Turlais in a no confidence vote.
