Saeima party Latvia in First Place (LPV) and its leader Ainārs Šlesers have started collecting signatures for a referendum to initiate the dissolution of the 14th Saeima. Political party Harmony, which failed to overcome the required vote barrier to be represented in the Saeima, reports having submitted a legislative draft to the Central Election Commission, suggesting a change in legislation to ensure the state president is elected by the people, not the Saeima.
Šlesers said that after the recent presidential elections, in which New Unity candidate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs was elected the next President of Latvia, the ruling coalition will likely experience internal changes.
According to Šlesers, the existing coalition is de facto over and a new one will be composed in its place, because the current one is incapable of taking action. The politician said the presidential elections is the end of this coalition, because lately there haven’t been any reforms or any kind of action.
“For seven months the coalition mumbled and stumbled. In the end the Combined List (AS) betrayed their leader, businessman Uldis Pīlēns. Saeima speaker Edvards Smiltēns pretended to be a hockey player and gave autographs. In the end Pīlēns was not elected as president.
Smiltēns will likely lose his post if distribution of seats starts again,
which is a normal political process,” said Šlesers.
When asked what could happen with PM Krišjānis Kariņš’s government, the politician said his government will fall because Kariņš and his government have exhausted themselves. Šlesers said that
LPV will explain explain when the collection of signatures for a referendum on the dissolution of the Saeima can be started legally,
because a referendum cannot take place until a year after elections.
“We will consult with the Central Election Commission on whether we can start earlier than the 1st of November. One thing is clear, Saeima deputies will need a new mandate. This is why we need new elections. The Saeima has disappointed its voters with inaction. The parliament cannot develop the national economy. Now there’s a shit in focus,” said LPV leader.
Šlesers mentioned that the outcome of elections was a shock to him. The politician allowed that this shock was felt by many voters. He is full of commitment to gathering the necessary 155 000 signatures to organise a referendum. Šlesers said he is confident the people will dissolve this Saeima.
When asked about his opinion of Rinkēvičs as Latvia’s next President, Šlesers stressed that unlike Levits, Rinkēvičs is a professional politician. He believes “Levits was a zero” – clumsy in his work and statements.
“He was given a prepared text, but he couldn’t even read the text correctly. Rinkēvičs is a professional, no question. The question is whether Latvia is ready for such a president. What do people think about his sexual orientation,” said Šlesers.
He said the question is also what people think about politicians who elected Rinkēvičs. Do the people support such values? Šlesers believes people will not have a chance to speak out, they will have to “keep their mouths shut”. This is what the referendum is meant for.
When asked if voters’ opinion about Rinkēvičs is also dictated also by the fact that in the last Saeima elections he was one of the politicians with the largest number of plusses, Šlesers said Rinkēvičs is popular among his voters, but it has nothing to do with the general public opinion. The people will have an opportunity to collect 155 000 signatures and dissolve the parliament, including Šlesers and his party.
“This is LPV’s initiative and proposal to help exit this crisis. Otherwise people are unhappy. Politicians make excuses, but people will continue leaving the country. Rinkēvičs needs this referendum as well. If people support the Saeima’s dissolution, he, despite his sexual orientation, will have to respect the opinion of the majority. He is no longer a minister – he is the president,” said LPV’s leader.
According to Šlesers, the National Alliance (NA) previously said they will not participate in a government that has Progressive Party and the Union of Greens and Farmers. So the question of whether or not they decide to support the referendum initiative is also an open one. The politician stressed that if NA think that after not voting for Rinkēvičs they will be able to remain in the government, they are wrong.
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Harmony party explains that “the post of the state president cannot be used in political negotiations, and residents should have the right to elect the president on their own”. A people’s president would bring back people’s interest for politics and restore the belief that the people are the ones who dictate the rules.
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