RIGA, May 6 (LETA) - The Progressives party has called on New Unity and the National Alliance to make a promise not to enter a coalition with Ainars Slesers' Latvia First party in Riga, the Progressives' spokeswoman Leticija Liva Lukjanska informed LETA.

Before the upcoming municipal elections, the Progressives party has appealed to the parties that sociological polls show have a real chance of winning seats on the Riga City Council - New Unity and the National Alliance, asking them to sign a memorandum that they will not form a coalition with the Slesers-led Latvia First party in Riga.

"This election will decide whether Riga will take a development path of a European city or whether pro-Kremlin forces will return to power here, leading the Latvian capital towards the East. I believe that residents of Riga already know which party is ready to work in a coalition with Slesers and which will never do that," said Viesturs Kleinbergs, the Progressives' candidate for Riga mayor.

In the draft memorandum, the Progressives propose a strict distancing from all political forces that express pro-Kremlin views. The draft memorandum stresses that forming a coalition in Riga with political parties that justify Russia's aggression, refuse to condemn its war in Ukraine or are opposed to Latvian as the only state language is unacceptable.

In an interview with LETA, Riga Mayor Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) said earlier that after the elections it is important to maintain the course taken in Riga in previous years.

Kirsis believes that the main battle in this year's municipal elections will be between two political blocs. One of them is Ainars Slesers' Latvia First, Harmony, Stability and Sovereign Power, and the other is the current coalition plus the Progressives.