Parliament approves Latvia's new coalition government

RIGA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Latvian lawmakers on Wednesday voted to approve the Baltic country's New center-right coalition government, the parliamentary press service informed.

The incoming Cabinet of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins of the center-right New Unity, was approved at an extraordinary parliament sitting by 61 votes to 39.

Latvia's New five-party coalition comprises New Unity, the New Conservative Party, the liberal alliance For Development/For, the right-wing National Alliance and KPV LV.

The coalition deal was struck after more than three months of negotiations, the longest since the restoration of the country's independence in the early 1990s.

Two prime minister designates, Janis Bordans of the New Conservative Party and Aldis Gobzems of KPV LV, had failed the attempts to form a government after a general election in October produced a highly fragmented parliament with seven factions.

Karins, however, succeeded in clinching the deal even though his New Unity party has the smallest number of seats in parliament.

The centrist Union of Greens and Farmers, which used to be the leading partner in Latvia's outgoing government coalition, as well as the left-wing Harmony party, remain in opposition.

Also, a group of five MPs of KPV LV party, which officially has joined the ruling coalition, said last week they would not vote for the Karins-led cabinet but would side with the opposition. Enditem