Latvian Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks (ZZS) may have been caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.09‰, LETA has learned.
The State Police confirmed to LETA that on Saturday, 12 September, municipal police officers stopped the driver of a Škoda in Stopiņi Parish, Ropaži Municipality, on suspicion of drink-driving.
The State Police were called to the scene. A breathalyser test showed an alcohol concentration of 3.09‰ in the Škoda driver’s breath.
The State Police have launched criminal proceedings over the incident.
According to Uzulnieks’ public official declaration, he owns a 2022 Škoda Kodiaq.
LETA previously reported that the board of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) decided at an extraordinary meeting to recall Uzulnieks from the post of Welfare Minister. It was also decided to expel him from the party.
Viktors Valainis, chairman of the Latvian Farmers’ Union, which is part of ZZS, told LETA that the decision concerning Uzulnieks was unanimous, as the political force has zero tolerance for such incidents.
At the same time, he noted that Uzulnieks is still legally entitled to stand in the election and that the political party itself cannot prevent him from doing so.
ZZS has promised to provide further information on Monday, 14 September.
Uzulnieks is the lead candidate on the ZZS electoral list in Zemgale for the Saeima election scheduled for October this year.
In 2014, he became head of the office of Welfare Minister Uldis Augulis (ZZS) and later served as Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Welfare.
Uzulnieks returned to the post of Parliamentary Secretary at the ministry in 2023. In 2025, during the government led by Evika Siliņa (JV), he became Welfare Minister, replacing Augulis after the latter was recalled from office.
In May 2026, Uzulnieks was confirmed as Welfare Minister in the government led by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS).
According to information available in the LETA archives, Uzulnieks was born on 28 July 1986 in Talsi and studied at the Latvian Police Academy and Turība University.
Amendments to the Criminal Law that entered into force in November 2022 introduced criminal liability for driving or teaching someone to drive a vehicle if the alcohol concentration detected in a breath or blood test exceeds 1.5‰.
For such an offence, the Criminal Law provides for imprisonment of up to one year, probation supervision and a five-year driving ban.
Driving while heavily intoxicated is also subject to confiscation of property, namely the vehicle.