Arvils Ašeradens named Jaunā Vienotība prime ministerial candidate

Arvils Ašeradens, the prime ministerial candidate for the Jaunā Vienotība (JV) party, has revealed that Foreign Minister Baiba Braže was initially offered the candidacy but declined. Braže reportedly turned down the role to focus on foreign policy and supporting Ukraine's victory on the battlefield.

Ašeradens stated that the decision to name him as the candidate fell to him due to his previous political and leadership experience, especially given the limited time for party reorganization following the government's collapse. He described the current period as a “hyper-fast” time for the party to restructure before the Saeima elections.

Ašeradens also reflected on the legacy of the Unity party, noting its role in maintaining stability through various crises, including the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. He emphasized that while the party has successfully ensured stability, the challenge remains in transforming that stability into economic growth.