
The ruling coalition in Riga City Council is currently more stable than ever, Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs (P) claimed in an interview with Latvian Television’s (LTV) morning program Rīta panorāma.
The question of coalition stability was raised in light of differing positions between Kleinbergs and Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks (NA) regarding the need to take a tougher stance against illegal migrants in the capital.
While Ratnieks has repeatedly promised to fight illegal migration in Riga regularly and systematically, involving the Riga Municipal Police (RPP) in the process, Kleinbergs has publicly stated that this is not his priority.
In Thursday’s interview with LTV, Kleinbergs said that
at the top of his current priorities as mayor are the renovation of the Vanšu Bridge,
salaries for municipal police officers and social workers, next year’s city budget, road repairs, the Altonava overpass, heating connections, and similar issues.
The leadership of the Municipal Police has repeatedly assured Kleinbergs that no special resources are being allocated for combating illegal migration in Riga, and that the force will not be the one organizing raids to catch illegal migrants. However, for the purpose of maintaining public order, the RPP can participate in such operations within the limits of its competence, Kleinbergs added.
Given these differing views between the mayor and his deputy, LTV asked Kleinbergs how stable the Riga City Council coalition is at present, to which he replied: “I would say, more stable than ever.”
Read also: Latvia’s 2026 state budget – will the coalition wreck it in pre-election intrigues?
The post “More stable than ever”: Kleinbergs on Riga City Council coalition unity appeared first on Baltic News Network.