# 2018 Latvian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 6 October 2018. Following the elections, a coalition government was formed by Who owns the state?, the New Conservative Party, Development/For!, the National Alliance and New Unity. Despite being from the smallest elected party, Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš of New Unity was chosen as prime minister.

## Background

The 2014 elections saw Social Democratic Party "Harmony" emerge as the largest party. Although the largest party, Harmony has not participated in the government. A coalition was formed by Unity, the Union of Greens and Farmers and the National Alliance with Laimdota Straujuma as prime minister. On 7 December 2015 she resigned after increasing tensions within the ruling coalition. Following her resignation and several scandals around the Unity leader Solvita Āboltiņa, opinion polls showed a rapid decrease of support for Unity. On 13 January 2016 Māris Kučinskis of the Union of Greens and Farmers was nominated to be the next prime minister by President Raimonds Vējonis. His government was approved by the Saeima on 11 February.

## Electoral system

The 100 members of the Saeima are elected by open list proportional representation from five multi-member constituencies (Kurzeme, Latgale, Riga (in which overseas votes are counted), Vidzeme and Zemgale) between 13 and 32 seats in size. Seats are allocated using the Sainte-Laguë method with a national electoral threshold of 5%.

## Electoral alliances

The Movement For!, Latvian Development and Growth parties contested the election as the Development/For! alliance, formed on 20 April 2018.
The Social Democratic Workers' Party, the Christian Democratic Union and Proud to Serve Our Latvia [lv] contested the election as the SKG Alliance electoral list, the memorandum of which was signed by the leaders of the parties on 28 March 2018.
The long-standing alliance of the Latvian Farmers' Union and the Green Party (in cooperation with the regional For Latvia and Ventspils and Liepāja Party) continued.
Unity formed an association in April 2018 with several regional parties under the New Unity alliance. The involved parties are the Kuldīga County Party, For Valmiera and Vidzeme and For Tukums City and County [lv] parties, joined by the Jēkabpils Regional Party. The Latgale Party, after a period of consideration, joined the alliance in July, although its Daugavpils chapter allied itself with The Progressives. The Progressives and Movement For! declined invitations to join the list.

## Disqualifications

The Central Election Commission of Latvia used its powers to remove eight candidates from submitted lists. It did so after receiving notification from the Interior Ministry that the individuals in question were disqualified from election to the Saeima under the country's election law. The eight candidates were Aivars Zablockis and Nikolajs Žeļezņakovs (Eurosceptic Action Party), Zigfrīds Laicāns and Valdis Taupmanis (For Alternative), Edgars Krūmiņš (Latvian Association of Regions), Katrīna Brandala (The Progressives), Aivars Silinieks (Latvian Centrist Party) and Tatjana Ždanoka (Latvian Russian Union). Ždanoka has been barred in the past as Latvian courts have found that she was a member of the Communist Party of Latvia after 31 January 1991, making her ineligible. The Election Commission additionally sought information from the Security Police and the Constitution Protection Bureau to confirm her ineligibility.

## Prime Minister candidates

| № | Party | Candidate |
| 1 | Union of Greens and Farmers | Māris Kučinskis |
| 2 | New Conservative Party | Jānis Bordāns |
| 3 | New Unity | Krišjānis Kariņš |
| 4 | KPV LV | Aldis Gobzems |
| 5 | Latvian Association of Regions | Edvards Smiltēns |
| 6 | National Alliance | Roberts Zīle |
| 7 | Harmony | Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis |
| 8 | Russian Union | Andrejs Mamikins |
| 9 | The Progressives | Roberts Putnis [lv] |
| 10 | Development/For! | Artis Pabriks |

## Leading candidate by constituency

| № | Party | Leader | Leader | Leader | Leader | Leader |
| № | Party | Rīga | Vidzeme | Latgale | Kurzeme | Zemgale |
| 1 | Union of Greens and Farmers | Dana Reizniece-Ozola | Māris Kučinskis | Jānis Dūklavs | Gundars Daudze | Augusts Brigmanis [lv] |
| 2 | Harmony | Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis | Evija Papule [lv] | Jānis Krišāns [lv] | Anrijs Matīss | Ivars Zariņš |
| 3 | National Alliance | Dace Melbārde | Raivis Dzintars | Edmunds Teirumnieks [lv] | Ilze Indriksone | Edvīns Šnore |
| 4 | New Unity | Edgars Rinkēvičs | Inese Lībiņa-Egnere | Aldis Adamovičs [lv] | Arvils Ašeradens | Jānis Reirs |
| 5 | Russian Union | Andrejs Mamikins | Andris Tolmačovs | Jevgēņija Krjukova | Elita Kosaka | Ludmila Ušakova |
| 6 | Latvian Association of Regions | Ieva Brante [lv] | Edvards Smiltēns | Juris Viļums | Nellija Kleinberga | Inga Bite |
| 7 | Progressives | Antoņina Ņenaševa | Inga Liepa-Meiere | Agnese Logina | Dace Kavasa | Līga Rasnača |
| 8 | Development/For! | Daniels Pavļuts | Artis Pabriks | Mārtiņš Bondars | Juris Pūce | Ilze Viņķele |
| 9 | New Conservatives | Juta Strīķe [lv] | Jānis Bordāns | Ilga Šuplinska | Juris Jurašs | Krišjānis Feldmanis |
| 10 | KPV LV | Artuss Kaimiņš | Linda Liepiņa | Roberts Spručs | Atis Zakatistovs | Kaspars Ģirģens |
| 11 | Latvian Nationalists [lv] | Andris Rubins [lv] | Alfrēds Buls | Vladislavs Bautris | Silvestrs Rubins | Kārlis Krūmiņš |
| 12 | For Latvia from the Heart | Inguna Sudraba | Gints Gābers | Jānis Valtervitenheims | Juris Jaunzems | Iveta Čivčiša |
| 13 | Action Party | Igors Meļņikovs [lv] | Jurijs Vasiļjevs | Tamāra Meļņikova | Andris Perjans | Jeļena Pičoha |
| 14 | For Alternative | Einārs Graudiņš | Juris Žuravļovs | Jānis Kuzins | Igors Glazunovs | Artūrs Malta |
| 15 | Latvian Centrist Party | Andžejs Ždanovičs | Vazgens Sorokins | Georgijs Sokolovskis | Dainis Grabovskis | Edvīns Puķe |
| 16 | SKG Alliance (LSDSP/KDS/GKL [lv]) | Armands Agrums | Jānis Dinevičs | Daiga Ceipiniece | Arvīds Kinstlers | Valdis Šakars |

## Other parties

* United for Latvia – on 17 May 2018 party leader Inese Muhamberga announced that the party will not run in the elections.
* Latvian Socialist Party – has not submitted a separate electoral list, instead urging "Latvian workers" to "vote politically bankrupt politicians out of office". Its alliance with Harmony was dissolved in 2014, although some of its members or supporters have continued to run as candidates from Harmony.

## Opinion polls

| Polling firm | Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample Size | SDPS | JV | ZZS | NA | LRA | NSL | LKS | VL | LA | JKP | GKL [lv] | KPV LV | Par! | PRO | Won't vote | Don't know | Other | Lead |
| FACTUM | | 24 – 30 September 2018 | 2,500 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 3 | | 1 | (n/a) | (Par) | 15 | (SKG) | 12 | 13 | 3 | | | 1 | 6 |
| Norstat | | September 2018 | | 12.7 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 6 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | (n/a) | (Par) | 7.7 | (SKG) | 8.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 6.9 | 32.4 | 7.8 | 2 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | September 2018 | about 1,000 | 17.2 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | (n/a) | (Par) | 5.2 | (SKG) | 6.2 | 5 | 1.2 | 12.7 | 25.5 | 1.6 | 7.8 |
| FACTUM | | 17 – 23 September 2018 | 2,381 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 3 | | 2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 16 | (SKG) | 11 | 11 | 2 | | | 2 | 3 |
| FACTUM | | 10 – 16 September 2018 | 1,164 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 3 | | 3 | (n/a) | (Par) | 14 | (SKG) | 11 | 12 | 2 | | | 3 | 7 |
| Kantar TNS | Delfi | 8 – 12 September 2018 | 1,200 | 14.9 | 3.2 | 9.8 | 4.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | (n/a) | (Par) | 5.3 | (SKG) | 9.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 5 | 38 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| FACTUM | | 3 – 9 September 2018 | 1,293 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 4 | | 3 | (n/a) | (Par) | 15 | (SKG) | 13 | 9 | 2 | | | 3 | 6 |
| Norstat | LNT | 10 – 14 September 2018 | 501 | 13.9 | 3.3 | 9 | 5.4 | 1.4 | | 1.9 | (n/a) | (Par) | 6.1 | (SKG) | 7.9 | 4.7 | 1 | 7 | 36.2 | 6.2 | 4.9 |
| FACTUM | | 30 August – 5 September 2018 | 1,947 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 4 | | 2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 15 | (SKG) | 13 | 10 | 3 | | | 4 | 7 |
| Norstat | TV3 Latvija | September 2018 | | 14.9 | 3.3 | 9 | 5.7 | | | 1.8 | (n/a) | (Par) | 6.9 | (SKG) | 6.6 | 4.5 | | 5.4 | 37.6 | 4.3 | 5.9 |
| FACTUM | | 27 August – 2 September 2018 | 1,915 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 3 | | 2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 15 | (SKG) | 12 | 11 | 3 | | | 5 | 9 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | August 2018 | 900 | 33 | 7.9 | 17.8 | 9.4 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 1.9 | (n/a) | (Par) | 4.4 | (SKG) | 11.6 | 4.8 | 1.4 | | | 0.8 | 15.2 |
| SKDS | Web | August 2018 | 900 | 24.7 | 5.8 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 4 | 2.6 | 5.2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 7.3 | (SKG) | 17.7 | 8.4 | 3.1 | | | 0.1 | 7 |
| FACTUM | | 25–31 August 2018 | 1,750 | 23 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 3 | | 3 | (n/a) | (Par) | 15 | (SKG) | 13 | 12 | 3 | | | 4 | 8 |
| FACTUM | | 22–28 August 2018 | 1,337 | 22 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 2 | | 3 | (n/a) | (Par) | 13 | (SKG) | 15 | 11 | 3 | | | 4 | 7 |
| FACTUM | | 20–26 August 2018 | 1,340 | 21 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 2 | | 2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 12 | (SKG) | 17 | 11 | 3 | | | 6 | 4 |
| FACTUM | | 13–19 August 2018 | 1,433 | 21 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 4 | (n/a) | (Par) | 10 | (SKG) | 16 | 10 | 3 | | | 4 | 5 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | August 2018 | ~900 | 21.5 | 5.1 | 11.5 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 2.9 | (SKG) | 7.5 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 12.0 | 23.0 | 0.1 | 10 |
| FACTUM | | 1–6 August 2018 | | 19 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 4 | (n/a) | (Par) | 10 | (SKG) | 16 | 14 | 2 | | | 5 | 3 |
| FACTUM | | 26 July – 1 August 2018 | | 19 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 12 | (SKG) | 18 | 12 | 2 | | | 5 | 1 |
| FACTUM | | 17–23 July 2018 | 1,494 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 10 | (SKG) | 14 | 11 | 3 | | | 3 | 5 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | July 2018 | 1,000 | 21.4 | 2.9 | 12.4 | 6.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | (n/a) | (Par) | 3.9 | (SKG) | 7 | 4.4 | 0.5 | | | | 9 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | June 2018 | 1,000 | 21.0 | 2.7 | 14.4 | 6.1 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | (n/a) | (Par) | 4.0 | (SKG) | 4.4 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 13.2 | 23.7 | 0.0 | 6.6 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | May 2018 | 1,000 | 19.1 | 3.7 | 14.6 | 7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.3 | (n/a) | (Par) | 2.4 | (SKG) | 3 | 3 | 0.6 | 13.7 | 27.5 | 0.4 | 4.5 |
| Norstat | TV3 Latvija | May 2018 | 1,000 | 16.3 | 6.2 | 17.1 | 9.1 | 3.2 | 2.1 | | (n/a) | 1.8 | 6.1 | (SKG) | 3.5 | 3.6 | | 1.8 | 26.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | April 2018 | 1,000 | 23.2 | 4.9 | 12.8 | 8.3 | 2.8 | | | 2.1 | | 3.7 | (SKG) | 2.4 | 1.7 | | 12.2 | 24.7 | 0.4 | 10.4 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | March 2018 | 1,000 | 20.4 | 4.9 | 13.9 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 3.6 | | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 12.9 | 30.0 | 0.4 | 6.5 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | February 2018 | 1,000 | 21.2 | 4.6 | 14.5 | 7.8 | 2.1 | | | | | 4.1 | | 1.9 | | | 13.1 | 25 | 20.2 | 6.7 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | January 2018 | 1,000 | 20.4 | 2.9 | 15.3 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | | | | 4.1 | | 2.0 | 1.4 | | 16,5 | 26 | 2.1 | 5.2 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | December 2017 | | 20.7 | 3.5 | 14.3 | 7.3 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 3.0 | | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 15.3 | 25 | 0.5 | 6.4 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | November 2017 | | 19.8 | 3.8 | 15.3 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 2.1 | | | | 3.9 | | 1.6 | 1.2 | | 14 | 26 | 2.9 | 4.5 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | October 2017 | | 22.5 | 3.5 | 13.1 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 2.2 | | | | 3.9 | | 1.2 | 1.2 | | 13.8 | 23.5 | 2.2 | 9.4 |
| SKDS | | September 2017 | | 20.2 | 4.4 | 11.7 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 1.4 | | | | 4.1 | | 2.0 | 1.9 | | 13.7 | 29.4 | 1.2 | 8.5 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | August 2017 | | 20.9 | 3.1 | 13.1 | 6.8 | 4.3 | 1.6 | | | | 5.5 | | 0.8 | | | 15.9 | 26.1 | 1.9 | 7.8 |
| SKDS | | July 2017 | | 21.2 | 3.7 | 13.8 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 2.0 | | | | 4.2 | | 1.4 | | | 17.0 | 24.1 | 2.4 | 7.4 |
| SKDS | | June 2017 | | 22.3 | 4.0 | 14.5 | 5.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | | | | 2.9 | | 3.5 | | | 12.4 | 26.9 | 1.7 | 7.8 |
| SKDS | | April 2017 | | 23.0 | 4.1 | 14.6 | 6.4 | 5.1 | 2.2 | | | | 2.0 | | 3.8 | | | 12.4 | 24.1 | 2.3 | 8.4 |
| SKDS | | March 2017 | | 21.2 | 4.2 | 13.1 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 | | | | 2.9 | | 4.0 | | | 14.3 | 24.0 | 2.6 | 8.1 |
| SKDS | | January 2017 | | 21.0 | 4.2 | 10.5 | 6.9 | 3.8 | 1.9 | | | | | | 6.2 | | | 15.0 | 26.0 | 4.5 | 10.5 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | December 2016 | | 17.8 | 4.5 | 12.5 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 2.4 | | | | | | 6.5 | | | 15.1 | 27.1 | 2.5 | 5.3 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | September 2016 | | 17.9 | 5.0 | 17.3 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.4 | | | 13.0 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| | | August 2016 | | 18.7 | 5.2 | 18.7 | 7.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.6 | | | 11.6 | 28.1 | 0.0 | Tie |
| | | July 2016 | | 18.6 | 6.1 | 18.2 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 4.3 | | | 9.4 | 29.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| SKDS | | July 2016 | | 17.8 | 6.3 | 17.5 | 9.1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | | | | | | 5.9 | | | 16.8 | 19.6 | 3.0 | 0.3 |
| SKDS | Latvijas Televīzija | June 2016 | | 19.2 | 5.4 | 17.1 | 7.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | | | | | | 8.4 | | | 11.3 | 22.7 | 2.7 | 2.1 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | May 2016 | | 19.1 | 4.1 | 19.9 | 6.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 6.1 | | | 12.4 | 25.6 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | April 2016 | | 16.7 | 3.7 | 20.0 | 8.1 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | | | | 11.9 | 29.8 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | March 2016 | | 17.9 | 5.5 | 20.2 | 9.0 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | | | | 14.7 | 22.4 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | February 2016 | | 18.5 | 5.4 | 18.1 | 8.3 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | | | | | 17.5 | 22.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | February 2016 | | 20.1 | 5.9 | 21.2 | 8.7 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | | | | | 11.9 | 23.9 | 0.0 | 1.1 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | January 2016 | | 18.7 | 5.3 | 16.8 | 8.1 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | | | | | 12.6 | 30.7 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | December 2015 | | 19.5 | 5.5 | 15.6 | 8.7 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | | | | | 11.5 | 31.0 | 0.0 | 3.9 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | November 2015 | | 18.1 | 8.1 | 14.9 | 8.2 | 5.6 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | | | | | 12.6 | 26.8 | 0.0 | 3.2 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | October 2015 | | 20.5 | 7.2 | 15.1 | 7.9 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | | | | | 13.0 | 28.4 | 0.0 | 5.4 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | August 2015 | | 21.7 | 8.0 | 13.6 | 10.0 | 4.4 | 2.8 | | | | | | | | | 12.7 | 25.1 | 1.7 | 8.1 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | April 2015 | | 20.5 | 10.3 | 13.3 | 9.0 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 1.0 | | 0.2 | | | | | | 11.5 | 24.5 | 1.0 | 7.2 |
| Latvijas Fakti | | February 2015 | | 18.4 | 9.8 | 12.7 | 7.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | | | | | | | | | 15.3 | 26.5 | 2.6 | 5.7 |
| 2014 election | | October 2014 | | 23.0 | 21.9 | 19.7 | 16.6 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.4 | 1.1 |

### Graphical summary
## Results

| | Social Democratic Party "Harmony" | 167,117 | 19.92 | 23 | –1 |
| | Who Owns the State? | 120,264 | 14.33 | 16 | New |
| | New Conservative Party | 114,694 | 13.67 | 16 | +16 |
| | Development/For! | 101,685 | 12.12 | 13 | +13 |
| | National Alliance | 92,963 | 11.08 | 13 | –4 |
| | Union of Greens and Farmers | 83,675 | 9.97 | 11 | –10 |
| | New Unity | 56,542 | 6.74 | 8 | –15 |
| | Latvian Association of Regions | 35,018 | 4.17 | 0 | –8 |
| | Latvian Russian Union | 27,014 | 3.22 | 0 | 0 |
| | The Progressives | 22,078 | 2.63 | 0 | New |
| | For Latvia from the Heart | 7,114 | 0.85 | 0 | –7 |
| | Latvian Nationalists [lv] | 4,245 | 0.51 | 0 | New |
| | For an Alternative | 2,900 | 0.35 | 0 | New |
| | SKG Alliance | 1,735 | 0.21 | 0 | New |
| | Action Party | 1,059 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Latvian Centrist Party | 897 | 0.11 | 0 | New |
| Total | Total | 839,000 | 100.00 | 100 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 839,000 | 99.30 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 5,925 | 0.70 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 844,925 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,548,100 | 54.58 | | |
| Source: CVK ||||||

## Aftermath

Political leaders met on 18 October with the president Raimonds Vējonis. Although they failed to agree on a name for a prime minister, they reiterated their intention to form a coalition government and to exclude Harmony from any coalition, even if it required forming a coalition of five or six parties.
On 7 November 2018, Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis asked Bordāns to form a new coalition government and serve as the next Prime Minister of Latvia. Bordāns intended to form a five-party majority coalition, and he announced that his coalition will not include ZZS, a political alliance led by a Latvian oligarch Aivars Lembergs. However, other political parties wished to cooperate also with ZZS. Consequently, Bordāns did not reach an agreement with the coalition partners, and informed the President that he is unable to form the cabinet.
On 14 November 2018, Development/For!, National Alliance and New Unity pulled out of coalition talks with the New Conservative Party and KPV LV, making a five-way centre-right coalition government infeasible.
After Jānis Bordāns was unsuccessful in negotiating a governing coalition, President Raimonds Vējonis nominated Gobzems as Prime Minister of Latvia on 26 November 2018 and gave him two weeks to form a government. A week later, he proposed a coalition that would consist of his Who Owns the State? party along with the New Conservative Party, the National Alliance, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and New Unity, despite the conservatives' objection to the Greens and Farmers' inclusion in government. Fellow Who Owns the State? party leader Artuss Kaimiņš also opposed the inclusion of the Greens and Farmers, leading to a breakdown in talks later in the week. Gobzems then retracted his proposal for the coalition and instead called for a non-partisan cabinet of unnamed "best of the best" industry professionals, a proposal that was nearly immediately rejected by the conservatives, the nationalists, and New Unity on the grounds that it could increase the influence of the Harmony party. Although he had initially called on the president to hold early elections if his proposal were to be rejected, Gobzems instead offered a new four-party coalition that would not include the Union of Greens and Farmers. The president revoked Gobzems' nomination on 10 December 2018.
In December it was announced that coalition talks would continue into January.
On 7 January 2019, Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš was tasked by Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis with forming the next government, following the failures of previous nominees Bordans and Gobzems in a contentious negotiation process. Kariņš took office as prime minister on 23 January 2019, leading a broad centre-right coalition of five conservative and liberal parties that includes KPV LV, New Conservative Party, Development/For!, National Alliance and New Unity.