Employees of former Defense Minister Andris Sprūds’s office will receive a total of 52,261 euros before taxes in severance pay and compensation for unused vacation days, according to information obtained by the LETA news agency from the Ministry of Defence of Latvia.
The amount also includes the employer’s share of social tax contributions.
Among those receiving compensation is former parliamentary secretary and Saeima deputy Liene Gātere, who will receive 11,146 euros before taxes as compensation for unused vacation leave.
As previously reported, former Defense Minister Sprūds, who lost the confidence of Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, will not receive a severance payment because he plans to return to parliament after leaving office.
Latvia’s Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Institutions stipulates that
severance compensation is not paid if a Cabinet minister joins the Saeima within one month after leaving office.
However, Sprūds will receive compensation for unused annual leave accrued during his tenure as defense minister.
It was previously reported that Sprūds announced his resignation on Sunday evening, while Prime Minister Siliņa simultaneously demanded his resignation. The Prime Minister has invited Colonel Raivis Melnis to become the next defense minister, and he has reportedly accepted the offer.
Siliņa said the decision was made following the drone incidents in Latgale, citing a loss of confidence in the minister and broader problems within the defense sector.
Meanwhile, Sprūds stated that he was stepping down to take political responsibility and to prevent the National Armed Forces of Latvia from being drawn into political disputes. At the same time, an evaluation of the armed forces’ response to the incidents is continuing, along with efforts to strengthen Latvia’s air defense capabilities.
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