The centre-right victor in Latvia's general election, political newcomer Einars Repse, has said the country's foreign policy will not change.

Provisional results

New Era: 26 seats Coalition for Human Rights in a United Latvia: 24 seats People's Party: 21 seats Greens and Farmers Union: 12 seats Latvia First: 10 seats

Mr Repse, a former central banker, told the AFP news agency he expected swift progress towards the formation of a coalition government, which is likely to oversee Latvia's entry into Nato and the European Union if it serves a full term in office.

He said he was ready to shoulder the economic burden of bringing Latvia's army up to Nato standards.

"If we want to be a decent and trustworthy member, we have to prepare our defence capabilities. We want to be a good partner," he said.

Russian integration

An aide said the party, with 26 seats in the 100-strong assembly, would hold coalition talks with all right-wing and centrist parties.

Loser: Outgoing Prime Minister Andris Berzins

Mr Repse ruled out a partnership with the party that came second - the pro-Russian Coalition for Human Rights in a United Latvia - on the grounds that it was from the left.

However, he said he was not against integration of the Russian-speaking minority - roughly one third of the country's population.

Possible coalition partners for the New Era party include the right-of-centre People's Party, led by former Prime Minister Andris Skele, a member of the outgoing coalition government, which came third with 21 seats.

Untainted partners

Latvia First, a centrist grouping sometimes known as the clergymen's party, got 10 seats while the eurosceptic Greens and Farmers Union got 12 seats.

For Fatherland and Freedom, a right-leaning member of the current government coalition, gained seven seats.

An aide to Mr Repse said that party, which made the fight against corruption a central part of its campaign, would look for coalition partners untainted by corruption.

Among the biggest losers in the election was the Latvia's Way party of outgoing Prime Minister Andris Berzins, which just failed to cross a 5% barrier for representation in parliament.