In his video address, Chairman of Rezekne City Council Aleksandrs Bartaševičs, responding to the statement released by Harmony political party’s Riga office this week, accused his own party members of lies, betrayal and want for power.
The politician claims that the statement includes a distorted interpretation of his position in regards to Ukraine. He did not clarify his position on the war in Ukraine and did not say what exactly was distorted in the letter of his fellow party members. Rezekne council chairman believes the most important part of the statement is the conclusion that
it is not possible to accept his candidacy for the post of chairman of Harmony’s board.
Describing Harmony’s poor results in the 14th Saeima elections, Bartaševičs said he believes the main causes of the loss included the decision by the party to ignore the interests of its voters, lack of dialogue within the party and the fact that its management – Jānis Urbanovičs and Nils Ušakovs – have «basically become the main driving force of negative trends in the party and a source of scandals for Riga City Council». Bartaševičs also claims that Ušakovs has basically committed treason by running for the European Parliament and not Riga City Council, whereas Urbanovičs has set his sights of taking over Harmony once again.
Rezekne’s mayor also claims that he is in favour of «changes for the party, clear goals, protection of residents’ interests», not the «spinelessness» of the current leadership and «empty talk».
Last week Harmony convened to discuss possible candidates for the post of the party’s chairman. The party’s Riga office reported that Rezekne’s mayor said in his presentation that Latvia should be a neutral country, which would be in breach of Latvia’s membership in the European Union and NATO.
Bartaševičs suggested calling the Russian-Ukrainian war a conflict and suggested keeping in mind Russia’s possible victory. He also suggested reaching an agreement on security guarantees from Russia’s side.
As mentioned in the statement released by Harmony Riga office on Wednesday, the 18th of January, Bartaševičs’ proposed position is unacceptable to Harmony members from a moral standpoint, goes completely against voters’, Latvian residents’, the country’s Russian-speaking residents’ and Latgale residents’ interests. Such a position puts at risk Latvia’s future, freedom, security and welfare.
This is why Harmony’s Riga office and Riga City Council faction believe that after such opinions
Bartaševičs’ possible candidacy could cause a split in the party and even its liquidation.
Also read: Harmony party’s leader distances party from rebellious Daugavpils mayor