The next stage of talks between Riga City Council factions of Par/Progressive (PP) and New Unity (JV) will continue next week on the 11th of July, as noted by PP public affairs representative Ivars Bandonis.
He said PP faction is not interested in snap elections and believes parties should continue talks to agree on future cooperation.
The primary issue in these talks is returning to good management and economically responsible decisions.
Once an agreement is reached on this, then it will be possible to discuss the distribution of seats.
“Voters have entrusted to you the duty of making Riga an open, European and organised city. In various political discussions members of the faction have always kept this duty in their minds.
We believe changes are possible in Riga if they are based on an open and transparent policy,” says PP faction chairman Mārtiņš Kossovičs.
The now ex-Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis previously said he
“tried to lead Riga City Council as a solid whole that is not divided into faction-controlled kingdoms in which everyone can rule however he or she likes without anyone asking questions”.
To discuss these topics, it is necessary to continue talking with partners, said the PP representative, adding the topic of the distribution of seats is currently secondary.
Previously it was reported that vice-mayor Vilnis Ķirsis was elected as acting chairman of Riga City Council on Wednesday, the 5th of July.
Deputies did not vote Ķirsis in, because information was received from the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development that there are three vice-mayors in Riga, and they have the rights to agree among themselves which of them could take the reins over the city council.
On the 16th of June Riga City Executive Director Jānis Lange signed an order to suspend acting director of Riga City Council Transport Department Jānis Vaivods and Chief of Transport Infrastructure Office Andrejs Urtāns for the duration of the investigation of a disciplinary case.
Officials were suspended following a whistle-blower’s report and the inspections that followed soon after. During the investigation officials uncovered severe violations that point to illegal and wasteful actions in relation to road restoration work.
This whole situation only outlined the discord among coalition partners New Unity and Par/Progresssive. The two sides have different opinions on who should be entrusted with investigating the possible violations.
On the 29th of June, after hours of heated discussions and exchange of accusations, Riga City Council approved the legislative draft suggested by New Unity in regards to the formation of a new committee to investigate possible violations in the Transport Department. Debates were so heated, in fact, that some deputies allowed the conflict could lead to snap elections in Riga.
New Unity (JV), National Alliance/Latvian Association of Regions (NA/LRA) and Kods Rīgai (KR) later decided to take the initiative to compose a new coalition. They also expect PP to withdraw their previous false claims and apologize.
He believes Riga City Council deputies should do what they can to prevent snap elections, because it could lead to “anti-governmental forces coming into power in the capital”. This is why JV, NA/LRA and KR have decided to take charge in talks regarding the possible creation of a new coalition.
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