The current director general of the State Revenue Service (VID) Ieva Jaunzeme said in an interview to LTV programme Šodienas jautājums on Tuesday, the 11th of April, she has no plans to run as candidate for another term.
Januzeme has been the head of VID since February 2019. Her term ends this year. When asked about running for another term, Jaunzeme said she does not consider such a possibility.
She did say the situation might change.
One of the parties that form the government in Latvia – Combined List (AS) – still believes Jaunzeme should be replaced in VID. Saeima’s AS faction leader Edgars Tavars said his party will continue insisting on this position. The party believes VID is in need of structural changes, including Jaunzeme’s replacement.
When asked if the topic of the new head for VID could be decisive for the coalition’s continued existence, Tavars did not provide a clear answer. He did say that AS did not enter the government to hold onto their seats. The party, he said, came to change something.
“At the very least we will not support Ieva Jaunzeme’s re-election. We invite our coalition partners to be proactive, and the minister of finance should decide on organising a new selection procedure,” said Tavars.
Jaunzeme denied all criticisms to her person. She believes AS failed to explain what exactly they found unsatisfactory in her work. “Everything I know of has been accomplished. I would like this shadow of suspicion that’s been on me for three months to be remove. Because this kind of behaviour is unbecoming of state officials – to accuse the head of an institution and not say what exactly is wrong,” she said.
Recently AS has invited Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens to replace VID director general Ieva Jaunzeme and start working on the institution’s internal reforms, as LETA was told by AS representative Mudrīte Grundule.
When asked about the opinion of New Unity on this matter, PM Krišjānis Kariņš said that
the Ministry of Finance is “well-aware” of the problems in VID’s work,
adding that Ašeradens and his ministry are working on their vision for necessary changes. Kariņš said Jaunzeme’s term as head of VID will end this year. This means a selection process will be organised.
Also read: Latvian political party gangs up on the head of VID; suggests institution’s reformation