Latvian Saeima deputy Aleksandrs Kiršteins has been expelled from the National Alliance’s (NA) parliamentary faction, according to the notification submitted to the Saeima Praesidium.
Two weeks prior to this Kiršteins wrote an application regarding his departure from the political party. This decision was a follow-up to his recent trip to China as a member of Ainārs Šlesers’ led Saeima deputies delegation. Although in public space members of National Alliance voiced different opinions about this dubious trip, Kiršteins denies his decision to leave the party was caused by it.
NA leader Raivis Dzintars claims the party has been having problems with Kiršteins form some time now. The decision to terminate relations with him was affected by the trip to China, he said. The party’s leader mentioned that their position is not against China or maintenance of diplomatic relations with this party, rather that the foreign policy should be composed in a “coordinated and unified manner”.
Kiršteins told LETA that he has “differing views about this government and its possible entry to the coalition in case something changes and NA is invited back”, namely about the party’s strategic direction, opinion and attitude towards the Green Course and the political party Unity.
Dzintars later explained that he does not sees a way to continue working with Kiršteinus in the NA faction.
However, other cooperation formats are possible. The politician said NA had similar experience in previous Saeima compositions. For example, when Ingūna Rībena left the party and the faction, they maintained limited cooperation, offering technical support and exchanging information.
Dzintars said that NA and Kiršteins have differences in opinions about action and choice of cooperation partners. Nevertheless, NA has no doubts that he is their associate when it comes to topics of national policy. “We have no intention of embarking on a path of war. We believe nationally-minded people should cooperation independently, regardless of whether or not they are in the same party,” said Dzintars.
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