Latvia's 'New Unity' party urges PM to fulfill civil society support pledge

Latvia's "New Unity" (JV) party has publicly called on Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs to uphold a commitment made in the government's declaration to bolster support for civil society. The party highlighted this pledge on social media, reminding the prime minister of the coalition's stated intention.

"Civil society and non-governmental organizations are one of the cornerstones of democracy," stated JV in their social media post. "We remind Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs that in point 51 of the government declaration, the government has pledged to strengthen support for civil society. We will follow to ensure this commitment is implemented in practice."

This public reminder surfaces as the coalition government faces internal friction over various policy matters. Notably, coalition partner ZZS has publicly demanded explanations from Kulbergs regarding the situation at the national airline airBaltic. ZZS is seeking clarity on recent financial support measures for the airline and the status of its debt repayment capabilities, especially in light of a negative credit rating outlook from Fitch Ratings.

JV's emphasis on civil society support underscores a broader coalition dynamic where different parties are asserting their priorities. The timing of the reminder also coincides with Kulbergs' expressed skepticism about the state's ability to manage capital companies, raising concerns about transparency in potential deals involving state-owned entities like "Tet" and "Latvijas Mobilais telefons."