RIGA, June 10 (LETA) - The Progressives party is able to work in one team with New Unity, Viesturs Kleinbergs, the Progressives' candidate for Riga mayor, said Tuesday following talks on forming a new Riga City Council coalition.

According to Kleinbergs, both political parties share a common perspective on many issues concerning the municipality's development.

"Riga needs bold ideas and resolute action. After the conversation with [outgoing Riga Mayor] Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) we agreed that we are ready to work as a team for the benefit of Rigans," Kleinbergs said.

Kirsis also described the talks with the Progressives as successful. The meeting focused on work to be done, which will also be complemented by New Unity's proposals.

Although the parties did not discuss positions, but New Unity expressed wish to continue work already started by the current city council.

New Unity currently controls five city council committees - in addition to the Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee, which has to be chaired by the Riga mayor, New Unity is in charge of transport, security, development and education.

Kirsis acknowledged that a lot has been done in the field of transport and there is a lot of work in progress that New Unity would like to see completed, but retaining control over the transport sector is not a red line for New Unity.

Kirsis also admitted that, looking back at previous disagreements between New Unity and the Progressives, some issues were closed and put aside.

Kleinbergs also stressed that the Progressives were looking to the future and that, in his opinion, the previous disagreements would not hinder joint cooperation in a new coalition.

As reported, the Progressives party on Tuesday met with New Unity to continue talks on forming a new coalition in Riga following last weekend's municipal elections.

On Monday, the Progressives held the first talks with the National Alliance, and a meeting with the United List is due to take place on Wednesday.

The municipal elections in Riga were won by Latvia First (LPV), which was closely followed by the Progressives and the National Alliance, according to the election results announced by the Central Election Commission.

In the municipal elections in Riga, the LPV won 18.17 percent of the vote, which gives it 13 out of 60 seats on the city council. The Progressives won 16.62 percent of the vote, giving them 11 seats, the National Alliance followed with 14.2 percent of the vote, giving it 10 seats, and Riga Mayor Vilnis Kirsis' New Unity, won 12.9 percent, which gives the party nine seats on the city council.

The Progressives have taken the initiative to form a new governing coalition in negotiations with the National Alliance, New Unity and the United List. Such a coalition would have 34 out of the 60 votes on the city council.