Attīstībai/Par! and the PROGRESĪVIE have agreed on running in upcoming municipal elections in Riga on a joint ticket, with Saeima member Mārtiņš Staķis (Attīstībai/Par! ) nominated as a candidate for Rīga mayor.
The electoral list will be called Attīstībai/Par!, PROGRESĪVIE (AP/PRO).
As Mārtiņš Staķis told journalists today, as he decided to run in the elections, his intention was to move towards uniting forces, because putting “personal ambitions and petty squabbles” first would lead to the same causes that resulted in the dissolution of the current city council.
“Despite some differences, we have a common vision about Riga as a city. We are willing to cooperate and agree on principles that will bring about real change,” Mārtiņš Staķis said.
Mārtiņš Staķis believes that conservative politicians failed to cope with their task to unite and warned that running in the elections on separate tickets will only bring losses to Riga. Mārtiņš Staķis reiterated calls for New Unity, the New Conservative Party and the National Alliance to resume talks and unite their forces.
Meanwhile, head of PROGRESĪVIE Riga’s division Mārtiņš Kossovičs said that today’s news conference was for those who do not believe in miracles.
“Miracles do happen, because, guided by good will, the two parties have managed to unite their wishes ahead of the elections,” the politician said.
He added that now it is the right time to unite ideas, so that Riga could be rebuilt, because “deposing the old power” is not enough.
“Riga has to use its potential, so that it was a model at least in Latvia’s context and severe social inequality did not dominate in the city,” said Mārtiņš Kossovičs.
As reported, if President Egils Levits promulgates the bill on the dissolution of current Riga City Council, a snap municipal election will take place on April 25.
