Mārtiņš Staķis intends to remain in his post as non-party mayor

The Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis plans to remain in charge of the city council as a non-party mayor.
At the 25 March press-conference the politician said he spoke with nearly all coalition partners except for Latvijas attīstībai. He said all of them affirmed support for him to preserve the existing coalition.
Staķis plans to discuss the situation with LA faction of Riga City Council and he hopes for their support. The mayor believes – even if the party does not support him, the coalition will not lose stability. The coalition currently has 38 votes out of 60. If it loses three votes with LA, the coalition will continue operations with support from 35 deputies.
The politician said «now it will be easier for him to take care of residents and entrepreneurs, as well as resolve the problems of Ukrainian refugees» now that he is outside parties.
Staķis reiterated that the decision of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development to pause Riga’s city planning. He believes there was room to continue discussions about problematic sections of the plan, but the rest of it was fit for approval.
Riga’s mayor said he has not met with Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development Artūrs Toms Plešs. He adds he was not aware of the ministry’s planned decision.
BNN previously reported that after the decision by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development to pause Riga’s territorial planning for the foreseeable future, Riga’s Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis decided to leave his political party Kustība Par!, which automatically means he also leaves Attīstībai/Par! Union of political parties.
Staķis explained on social media that he was attracted to Kustībā Par! political party by idealism, intellectual richness and the drive towards justice. He ran for the mayor’s post to improve life in the city, and he is «truly angered» that their closes ally – Latvijas attīstībai – «has pulled the brakes for the development of Latvia’s capital city to serve some narrow interests».
Staķis said he is said he made a mistake when deciding to form a union with Latvijas attīstībai, adding that the decision by Latvian Minster of Environment Protection and Regional Development Artūrs Toms Plešs to halt Riga’s territorial planning is unfair and unbalanced.
Years would be needed to execute the ministry’s order, and Riga’s entrepreneurs, investors and budget will suffer from it, claims Staķis.
«I have only one option to leave the union with Latvijas attīstībai. This is why I announce my leave from the party Kustība Par!,» the mayor announced, apologizing to all members who we invited to support the formation of Attīstībai/Par! Union.
He says he is «utterly sad» to leave his many like-minded people and supporters, but «living as though nothing happened and quietly accepting» that the halting of Riga’s territorial planning was legal and «not in any way related to the interests of gambling businesses would be lying to myself and my party members».
Staķis plans to continue working as chairman of Riga City Council and in the Par!/Progresīvie faction to thereby bring «changes to the city».