After failing to get elected as the next Saeima speaker, Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) Saeima faction member Gunārs Kūtris appeared in an evening news show on TV3 on Wednesday, the 20th of September. There he basically retracted the apology he gave for the statements he made in an interview to Latvijas Radio.
On Monday, the 18th of September, Kūtris participated in Krustpunktā radio programme. Among other things he had this to say: “If I was tasked with developing the economy, I would definitely invite Latvian millionaires for consultations, regardless if they are accused or convicted”. This quickly caused a wide backlash on social media, as people noticed gestures towards the criminally accused politician Aivars Lembergs.
But as the TV3 news host Edijs Bošs mentioned at the beginning of the programme, the newly-elected Saeima speaker – ZZS “reserve candidate” Daiga
Mieriņa has praised Lembergs as much as Kūtris has.
Additionally, the politician – who will be replacing President Edgars Rinkevičs, who is away on a visit to the UN headquarters in New York – has even said that the US sanctions were put on this Ventspils City Council deputy [Aivars Lembergs] unjustifiably and that political competitors have had a hand in it. [TV3 presented a citation – a fragment from Latvijas Radio 4 video recording in Russian language.]
Kūtris said he is not sad that he wasn’t elected. He told TV3: “I would rather say I’s sorry for apologizing, truth be told. I will once again say something I shouldn’t, but
I have my own opinion
and I have the right to an opinion.” He then explained: “To prevent political quakes, I was prepared to apologize – but my values are mu values, and I will not cross them”.
Society for Openness – Delna invited deputies to not support him as a candidate for the Saeima speaker’s post. Even Prime Minister Evika Siliņa condemned the scandal caused by Kūtris, asking him to apologize to society.
Also read: Wednesday’s Saeima votes sheds light on conflict within the coalition, politologist says