Popularity of Latvian PM-designate's party grows in January poll

The popularity rating of Latvia' s centrist Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) climbed in January as Maris Kucinskis, who has been nominated by ZZS for Latvia' s next prime minister, was holding talks with potential coalition partners to put together Latvia's new government, a new public opinion poll shows.

The leftist Harmony, which despite having the largest faction in Latvia's current parliament is not involved in the government formation talks, remained the most popular party with 18.7 percent voter support in January, down 0.8 percentage points from December.

ZZS came second in January as its popularity rating rose to 16.8 percent from 15.6 percent a month ago.

The right-wing National Alliance was third with 8.1 percent, down 0.6 percent from December.

The rating of Unity, the center-right leader of the outgoing cabinet, dipped to 5.3 percent in January from 5.5 percent in December.

The Latvian Bloc of Regions (LRA) and For Latvia from the Heart, the two opposition parties with the smallest factions in parliament, would not have won any representation in parliament in January as their ratings were below the 5 percent mark, at 4.7 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.

Latvijas Fakti market and public opinion research firm conducted the survey from January 11-21.

Source: XINHUA