RIGA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on Wednesday formally nominated incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs to form the Baltic country's next government.
Kulbergs' United List party won Latvia's parliamentary election by a wide margin in October but fell short of an outright majority, making coalition negotiations necessary to secure enough support to form a government.
Following the convening of the newly elected parliament on Tuesday, Kulbergs' cabinet resigned as required by the constitution. It will continue in a caretaker capacity until a new government is approved.
Rinkevics asked Kulbergs to begin coalition talks shortly after the October election but had to wait for the outgoing government to formally resign before nominating him as the candidate for prime minister.
The president expressed hope that Kulbergs' next cabinet would enjoy stability throughout its four-year term, until the next general election.
Following his nomination, Kulbergs is expected to continue negotiations with potential coalition partners.
Both Rinkevics and Kulbergs hope to have the new coalition government in place by Nov. 18, when Latvia celebrates its Independence Day. ■
