On Thursday, the 12th of December, the Saeima submitted to committees an initiative from residents to establish accountability to residents for public servants in Latvia.
The initiative calls for the responsibility of public officials to the public to be laid down in the relevant laws. This would increase both the responsibility of officials and the public’s trust in public servants, according to authors of the initiative.
The initiative states that information about embezzlement, illegal lobbying of the interests of individual persons, illegal procurement at both the state and municipal level, misuse of the powers granted, granting of unreasonable and illegal remuneration is constantly appearing in the public space.
Both administrative and criminal proceedings are initiated against the identified cases against public officials, as well as civil actions have been brought in the courts for the reimbursement of the losses incurred. “However, practice shows that these processes do not discourage public officials from wanting to break the law,” the initiative argues.