On Monday, the 4th of December, Latvian Saeima’s Budget and Finance Committee rejected a proposal from former Minister of Transport, Saeima opposition member Jānis Vitenbergs regarding the allocation of additional funding towards road maintenance.
The committee continued viewing proposals prepared for the 2024 state budget draft. The Saeima will need to vote on reviewed proposals this week.
Multiple of Vitenbergs’ proposals received no support, including diverting EUR 45 million acquired from corporate income tax towards reconstruction and restoration of local and regional roads, as well as diverting around EUR 11 million of co-financing towards reconstruction and re-designing of transit streets.
National Alliance member Uģis Mitrevics’ proposal to divert EUR 97 million from tax revenue towards grants for municipal roads and streets.
Referencing responses given by the Ministry of Finances during today’s meeting, the committee’s chairman Jānis Reirs mentioned that it is already planned to divert a total of around EUR 265 million towards roads in 2024. This includes co-financing for various EU projects.
Vitenbergs, explaining his proposals, mentioned there are regions in Latvia in which residents do not have an appropriate option to reach their municipal administration or store.
Answering Reirs’ question as to which locations he meant, Vitenbergs mentioned multiple, including Tukums, Vaiņode and Gulbene, where there is no “black coating” or asphalt. On top of that, in many areas there is poor quality of gravel roads.
The head of the committee said that the European Commission has given Latvia a warning about the planned state budget deficit level. This means it is possible to allocate funding towards only priority projects. Similarly how the previously government supported Vitenbergs’ vision as then the Minister of Transport, the new government trusts the priorities outlined by the new minister, said Reirs.
In September the Saeima approved Kaspars Briškens as Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s government’s new minister of transport.
Vitenbergs was critical about the fact that the budget’s section for the transport sector indicated that the new minister did not take part in budget talks.
Ministry of Finance deputy state secretary Jolanta Plūme mentioned that the government will soon view the Salacgriva bridge issue.
Also read: Though now in Russia, Latvian ex-MEP is paid wage of EUR 1 318 for inactivity
Follow us on Facebook and X!