RIGA, May 6 (LETA)  - Latvia's Green Party (LZP) has decided to leave the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), and for the upcoming parliament elections will run on a joint ticket with the Latvian Alliance of Regions (LRA), said ZZS co-chairman Armands Krauze in a press release.

He "has learned" that LZP will run on a joint ticket with LRA for the upcoming Saeima elections. In his words, this is not bad. ZZS still sees LZP as a constructive partner at the next Saeima.

"Also after LZP leaves the union, ZZS still will have more than 2,000 members who already now are actively working on the Saeima election program and candidates lists," said Krauze.

Krauze noted that early this week he received an official call from LZP chairman Edgars Tavars with a request not to sign a cooperation agreement with the party For Latvia and Ventspils, whose member is former Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs (For Latvia and Ventspils), convicted of massive graft.

At the same time, he said that there have been a number of ZZS meetings held in regions, where LZP head Tavars had invited to a meeting and cooperation members from Latvia's Farmers Union (LZS), For Latvia and Ventspils and Liepaja Party.

"During these meetings all four parties voiced resolution on cooperation before and after the elections. Several candidates for the prime minister had been discussed, including Viktors Valainis, Didzis Smits and Raimonds Bergmanis, proposed by For Latvia and Ventspils party," said Krauze.

As LRA leader and Riga Vice Mayor Edvards Smiltens told LETA earlier, LRA will have a press conference on its election plans on May 10.

LETA has not been able to reach Tavars.

LZP, Liepaja Party and LRA invited journalists to a press conference on May 10 where they plan to inform on a new political platform. Participating in the press conference will be Tavars, Smiltens, Liepaja Party chairman Uldis Sesks, and architect, businessman Uldis Pilens.