RIGA, June 19 (LETA) - Liepaja Party on Saturday reached an agreement with the Latvian Association of Regions (LRA) and National Alliance on a new coalition in Latvia's southwestern port city Liepaja, Andrejs Rjabcevs, an adviser to mayoral candidate Gunars Alsins (Liepaja Party) told LETA. 

According to the new coalition agreement, which has been signed by representatives of the three political parties, the new coalition aims to ensure an effective, stable and professional work of Liepaja City Council, elected in the June 5 local elections. 

After two weeks of negotiations, Liepaja Party, LRA and the National Alliance have drawn up political guidelines for the city council's work during its four-year term, Rjabcevs said.

Councilors of all three parties expressed support for Gunars Alsins' nominations for Liepaja mayor, while Atis Deksnis (LRA) has been nominated as deputy mayor, although outgoing Liepaja mayor Janis Vilnitis was the leader of the LRA ticket in the local elections.  

The first meeting of the new Liepaja City Council is expected to take place on July 1 in accordance with the Law on Administrative and Populated Areas. 

As reported, Liepaja Party emerged as the leader in this year's local elections in Liepaja, leaving LRA second.

Liepaja Party is led by the city's former mayor Uldis Sesks and current mayor Janis Vilnitis was the lead candidate running on the LRA ticket.

In the June 5 elections, 41.19 percent of voters supported Liepaja Party and 30.92 percent cast their votes for LRA.

Harmony placed third with 11.81 percent of the vote. The alliance comprising Movement For, New Conservative Party and the Progressives followed with 6.01 percent and the National Alliance with 5.04 percent.

Voter turnout in Liepaja was 28.84 percent.

As reported, 327,938 voters or 34.01 percent of eligible voters cast their votes in this year's local government elections, according to the Central Election Commission's data. This is the lowest voter turnout since the restoration of independence.