RIGA, Oct 24 (LETA) - Former environmental protection and regional development minister Juris Puce will be the lead candidate of For the Development of Latvia (LA) party in next year's municipal elections in Riga.

The LA board has approved the leading candidates for next summer's local elections in Riga. The party's board has nominated economist and LA co-chair Puce, former minister of economics, education and science Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, businessman Edgars Jaunups, Riga councillor, long-time captain of the Latvian national women's basketball team and Euroleague champion Anete Jekabsone-Zogota as leaders of the LA electoral list.

The LA electoral list will also include former education and science minister Anita Muizniece, former environmental protection and regional development minister Arturs Toms Pless, Riga councilor and teacher Iveta Ratinika and Riga councilor and chair of the city council's housing and environment committee Viesturs Zeps. 

The LA Riga team says that its key goal is to "break the bureaucratic chains in the city's administration". The party also intends to open Riga for business and investment.