Riga, Jan 15 (LETA) - The party Republic has elected former Saeima lawmaker and farmer Eriks Pucens as the chairman of its board, LETA was informed.

The party's board members are Linda Valaine, Ingus Kudins, Maris Feldmanis, Elvis Ozols, and Kaspars Girgens.

The party's priorities are regional development and the promotion of the well-being of people in the regions and the reduction of inequalities, fair agricultural policy and improving the quality of life, Pucens said.

"We see that the country is currently more focused on ineffective regional policies, which in the long term will significantly worsen the quality of life in the regions. Our party will continue to advocate for change in the country, for a reduction of bureaucracy in public administration and for decision-making based on quality and in the interest of the citizens," says Pucens.

The party has now started preparations for the local elections and plans to run a list in several regions, such as Kuldiga and Dobele.

According to the LETA archives, the Republic party was founded in 2021 by Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, who now represents For Latvia's Development party. In the 13th Saeima, the Republic party was represented by four MPs: Dombrovskis and Evija Papule, who were both elected to parliament from the Harmony party, as well as Kaspars Girgens and Pucens, who were elected from the KPV LV list. However, internal divisions within the parties later followed, and a new group of MPs was created.

In 2022, Dombrovskis and his supporters left the party, stating that they did not see any possibility of working with the brothers Sandis and Kaspars Girgens, who had taken over the leadership of the party.