Defending the prime minister and justifying anything the prime minister does is a matter of the coalition’s very existence at the moment, said opposition Saeima deputy Edvards Smiltēns in an interview to LTV programme “Rīta panorāma”.
Approval of the next year’s budget was very tense. Saeima deputies were basically “pulled from hospital beds”, which, according to Smiltēns, is an indication of just how unstable the government is. He also stressed that the approved budget will not only fail to solve problems decisive for Latvia’s existence, but will also cause additional risks. The politician criticised the budget, saying that it will only deepen the already large gap between Latvia and the two other Baltic States.
Considering the back and forth between him and Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during budget debates, Smiltēns said the Prime Minister is basically head of state who must provide a vision for the direction of the country, yet her vision is incomprehensible but described in “two words”.
Smiltēns is confident that in any “normal” country the prime minister would have resigned after saying the things she had said.
“Defending the prime minister and anything the prime minister has done is currently a matter of the coalition’s very existence,” said Smiltēns. He stressed, however, that if the country’s political leadership “paddles” through the laws, it means the destruction of justice, morality and order. If, on the other hand, the partners support it and the public does not resist, then it is a threat to democracy.
When asked if the “Combined List” intends to request Siliņa’s dismissal, Smiltēns said Siliņa should make steps on her own. He said the root of the conflict goes back to the time when both of them were members of “Unity” political party.
As previously reported, Siliņa fired back at Smiltēns during budget talks during the Saeima meeting because she believed her former colleague had personally insulted her.
Activists of the “Combined List” posted on social media a video from the Saeima meeting. This video shows a moment from that meeting, specifically when Siliņa responds to criticisms from Smiltēns by saying: “Don’t choke! Don’t vomit!”
The review of the budget plan and accompanying amendments took three days. Debates became especially heated on Friday, the 6th of December.
The prime minister told journalists on Monday, the 9th of December, that Smiltēns had personally insulted her by saying she is unable to lead the government despite it being the second budget her government has submitted to the Saeima.
“I don’t regret what I said. I’m a living person, emotional. I think I also have the right to respond to such accusations,” she said.
“Definitely not,” said Siliņa, answering the question if she intends to apologize for the things she said.