Latvian political party New Unity (JV) will not support Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) member Gunārs Kūtris as a candidate for the post of Saeima speaker, according to unofficial information available to LETA.
JV will not support he other candidate either – Māris Sprindžuks from the Combined List political party.
The vote for the new Saeima speaker is still going. Among the candidates for this post is the aforementioned Kūtris and Sprindžuks.
Debates regarding the dismissal of the current Saeima speaker Edvards Smiltēns lasted for one and a half hours. All opposition parties participated in debates. Some opposition representatives turned their criticisms towards JV politicians, urging them to carefully consider the consequences of their actions. The only one from the coalition to express an interest in debases was Viktors Valainis, who, speaking in support of Kūtris, stressed the Union of Greens and Farmers will not be destructive. Other coalition members did not participate in debates and decided not to explain their position.
Debates did not touch on the topic of any new candidates.
None of the parties represented in the Saeima explained their choice of candidates. No one took to the Saeima tribune to describe candidates and their motivation.
The only “conversation” politicians had in the Saeima hall started after Smiltēns’ dismissal. These conversations were about proposing Saeima speaker candidates basically within one minute’s time.
Then deputies started voting. The vote for the speaker in the Saeima is done using voting signs.
As confirmed by the party’s chairman of ZZS Saeima faction Victors Valainis, the party has decided to stick with Kūtris as their Saeima speaker candidate. The politician said this candidate was discussed and approved by the party in advance.
When asked about publicly voiced concerns about this candidate’s recent statements, Valainis promised ZZS will do all they can to restore residents’ trust in the Saeima.
As previously reported, Kūtris was blasted for his public statements about taking advice from different oligarchs, including ones on trial.
LETA reports unofficial information that ZZS’ coalition partners – New Unity and Progressive Party – are not too happy about their Saeima speaker candidate’s public statements. They expect ZZS to resolve the situation with their candidate.
Progressive Party member Andris Šuvajevs told LETA that on Wednesday, the 20th of September, the party consulted with ZZS. “Progressive Party finds Kūtris public statements unacceptable,” he said.
JV Saeima faction’s deputy chairman told LETA that he finds most of what Kūtris said unacceptable and shocking.
JV Saeima faction leader Ainars Latkovskis told LETA that his party has a meeting planned to discuss this situation.
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa told TV3 programme 900 seconds that in this situation she relies on ZZS. She hopes the coalition partners will be able to tell between what’s good for society and conclude the party does not have an appropriate candidate among its members to become the Saeima speaker.
“It is clear that Mr. Kūtris’ recent statements were difficult to explain for him and others,” said the PM, adding simply that she leaves the responsibility of selecting a candidate for the post of Saeima speaker to ZZS. At the same time, she still carefully watches decisions made by her party’s coalition partner.
Also read: OPINION | A vote for Kūtris is a vote for his “good master”