How Andris Kulbergs turned his auto business and lobbying associations into a springboard to the Latvian Prime Minister’s chair
On Saturday, May 16, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevich officially tasked Andris Kulbergs, a deputy from the "United List" (Apvienotais saraksts), with forming a new government.
The politician from the automotive business is aiming to create an unprecedented “super-coalition” of five parties (United List, National Alliance, Union of Greens and Farmers, Progressives, and New Unity). He has promised to set emotions aside and form a “government of action.” Previous attempts to seat nationalists and left-liberals at the same table have already led to protracted crises in the 14th Saeima.
“New Unity” — the long-time hegemon of the Latvian political scene — has already given preliminary consent to join the coalition led by the former opposition figure.
When asked about possible participation by Ainars Slesers’ party “Latvia First” (LPV), Kulbergs did not say a direct “no.” His phrasing — “we need to create the broadest possible coalition… but I have indicated five parties” — leaves the door slightly open for Slesers.
Kulbergs’ emphasis that “the president did not name any red lines” is a key detail. Rinkevich has effectively lifted the traditional taboo on negotiations with forces previously considered “untouchable” due to oligarchic influence. For Slesers, this is a chance to either enter the Cabinet or become a valuable “golden share” in voting.
Kulbergs’ thesis “Vispirms darāmie darbi, pēc tam — atbildības” (First do the work, then define areas of responsibility) is a classic approach of a corporate top manager. However, behind the facade of pragmatism lies a complex ecosystem, built over many years, combining personal business, industry lobbying, and specially created political-expert platforms. What do the official declarations and commercial reports hide about the man who is one step away from becoming Prime Minister of Latvia?
Business lineage: from Italian sports cars to a consulting “wallet”
Andris Kulbergs (46) is the sole owner of “VK development.” The abbreviation “VK” stands for the initials of his father, Viktors Kulbergs, a legendary Latvian engineer, founder of the Riga Motor Museum, the Antique Automobile Club (AAK), and the company “Auto Rīga.”
The company, founded in 1995, has operated under the names “AUTO BALTIKA,” “ItalAuto,” and “AUTO FORMULA,” at one time managing major import contracts (including distribution of Alfa Romeo and Fiat).
After the death of Viktors Kulbergs in 2013, the company underwent a deep restructuring. A liquidation process was initiated, then canceled just weeks later, and the share capital was sharply reduced to withdraw accumulated assets in favor of the family. It was after this that control of the firm passed completely from his mother, Elena Kulberga, to Andris. An important marker of his political transition: Kulbergs officially left the board of “VK development” on November 10, 2022 — exactly nine days after taking office as a Saeima deputy. He handed operational management to Andis Veinbergs but remained the 100% beneficial owner.
According to Crediweb.lv data, “VK development” currently has only one employee, and its activity profile has been reduced to niche consulting and automotive market research. Nevertheless, this company remains the main source of Kulbergs’ private income outside of politics.
In the successful year of 2023, the company earned €68,139 in net profit, allowing Kulbergs to withdraw a record €38,000 in dividends. In 2024, production costs tripled and profit fell to €24,225, which immediately affected his official declaration — savings in his personal accounts dropped by a third. In 2025, the business stabilized, generating €10,000 in dividends for the deputy.
Notably, in 2025 the company’s total tax contributions to the state budget suddenly fell by more than 2.5 times (to €11,240 compared to €22,990 in 2023), despite the staff remaining at one employee.
For Kulbergs, his personal car fleet is an extension of his public image. Year after year, his declarations feature exclusive vehicles: from a rare Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS (1939) and a Dodge Challenger (1973) to a sports Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and a new Ducati Multistrada motorcycle. In 2025, his priorities shifted toward water tourism — he declared the purchase of a Ryds 500 HT motorboat and a boat trailer.
At the beginning of his deputy career, Kulbergs owned two rare Mitsubishi Lancer Evo models from 1999. One of them, belonging to “VK development,” was involved in a serious accident on May 1, 2022, and turned into scrap metal, requiring lengthy legal write-off procedures.
High-level lobbying
Since May 2020, Andris Kulbergs has served as a board member of the “AUTO ASOCIĀCIJA” society. According to the association’s latest financial report for 2025, this is not just a public organization but a closed elite club consisting of exactly 22 legal entities (the country’s largest car dealers). The average annual contribution per participant is about €4,800. This structure exists solely on targeted funds from its closed ecosystem and functions as a refined commercial lobbyist.
In 2025, Kulbergs and his colleagues managed to pull the association out of the deep deficit of previous years into the black. The financial report shows that cash on the association’s bank accounts jumped almost fivefold — to €58,971.
The source of these funds is the line “Income of future periods,” which received a large anonymous advance payment of €48,000. Someone from the influential players in the automotive market generously pre-financed Kulbergs’ lobbying platform for 2026. The official reporting does not disclose who exactly is behind this amount.
In the same report, the association openly declares its promotion of changes to the Natural Resources Tax, technical inspection regulations, “green” public procurement rules for transport, and car recycling.
“Latvijas Restarts” — a think-tank for the government program
Kulbergs’ declaration also lists another important position — chairman of the board of the “Latvijas Restarts” society. The organization’s 2025 annual report puts all the dots on the “i.” In August 2025, a “star team” from the United List joined the board simultaneously: Kulbergs himself, former deputy Aiva Vīksna, and sworn advocate Baiba Veisa.
The organization has a modest budget (just over €2,000 in contributions from 18 individuals) and no paid employees (advocate Veisa worked 60 hours as a volunteer accountant for free). However, the board’s textual report directly and openly states the true purpose of its activities: “Cooperation with the APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS faction of the Saeima.”
The conclusion is obvious: “Latvijas Restarts” was originally conceived and serves as a legal intellectual platform — a “think factory” outside the Saeima walls — where Kulbergs and his team spent the past year meticulously drafting the party platform, regulatory framework, and economic reforms for his current bid for the prime ministership.
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