The welfare sector will not be “put on hold” until the election, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) promised in an interview with TV3 programme 900 sekundes.
The Prime Minister explained that Agriculture Minister Uldis Augulis (ZZS) had been chosen to serve as acting Welfare Minister because he had previously headed the ministry and is familiar with both its staff and current agenda. Kulbergs also noted that Augulis had previously stood in for former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks (ZZS).
Kulbergs said he learned from Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (NA) that Uzulnieks had been detained for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Asked whether he was confident that other ministers did not have problems with alcohol use, Kulbergs said that, first and foremost, he hoped Uzulnieks would receive the help he needed. As for his other colleagues, the Prime Minister said he was neither a doctor nor an expert qualified to make such assessments, but added that he had not observed such problems during Cabinet meetings.
He also urged people to consider their own responsibility when they see an intoxicated person attempting to get behind the wheel.
Saeima MP Augusts Brigmanis (ZZS) expressed a similar view on Latvian Television’s Rīta panorāma.
He also said Uzulnieks’ actions had come as a surprise to his fellow party members.
Asked whether there might be other members of the party with similar problems, Brigmanis said he could only speak with certainty about himself.
As previously reported by LETA, Uzulnieks was caught driving on Saturday with a blood alcohol level of 3.09‰. The State Police have launched criminal proceedings over the incident.
Following the incident, the Union of Greens and Farmers recalled Uzulnieks from his ministerial post and also announced that he would be expelled from the party.
A meeting of the Union of Greens and Farmers’ board is scheduled for Monday, after which the party has promised to provide further information about the incident.
Read also: Suspected of driving with 3.09‰ blood alcohol level – Latvia’s welfare minister loses his post