In Latvia, the President has appointed outgoing prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis to head a new government. The new government is expected to push through harsh budget cuts under the terms of an international bailout. Dombrovskis, whose Unity bloc won 33 seats in the 100-seat parliament in the election on October 2, will rule in a coalition with the Union of Farmers and Greens. Dombrovskis, 39, led his bloc to victory in the election despite 18 months of spending cuts and tax increases designed to meet the terms of a 7.5 billion euro bailout. A vote is expected in parliament next Wednesday to confirm the new government in office.