RIGA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said on Tuesday that incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs would lead talks on forming the Baltic country's next government following his party's sweeping victory in last Saturday's parliamentary election.
Rinkevics made the announcement at a press conference after holding separate consultations with all six political forces elected to the new parliament.
Kulbergs' United List party won 35.3 percent of the vote in the Oct. 3 parliamentary election, securing 41 mandates in Latvia's 100-seat parliament, according to preliminary results.
Rinkevics said no specific deadline had been set for forming the new government, but he would be glad to see it in place by Latvia's Independence Day on Nov. 18.
The president said Kulbergs could not yet be formally invited to form the new government, as the incumbent government will remain in office until the newly elected parliament convenes on Nov. 3.
However, he said this does not prevent Kulbergs from immediately starting negotiations with the political forces elected to the new parliament on the composition of a coalition, the distribution of responsibilities and a draft government declaration.
After meeting with the president on Tuesday, Kulbergs told reporters that voters had voted for change and given him a mandate to implement it. He described the election result as a historic opportunity to put the country in order without unnecessary compromises and political infighting.
Kulbergs reiterated that putting public finances back in order, strengthening national security, boosting economic growth and reforming public administration would be key priorities for the next government. He has said these priorities would be put to potential coalition partners. ■