Despite the fact that a court of first instance has declared ex-Mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs guilty of serious crimes of corruption committed against the state, the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) decided to pick him as the political party’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Latvia.
Prosecutor Juris Juriss, meanwhile, told BNN that the Prime Minister requires access to official secrets, and it is very unlikely Lembergs could be provided with a permit.
At a press-conference held on 18 July the Union of Greens and Farmers announced that Lembergs will be the party’s PM candidate for the upcoming 14th Saeima elections.
Juriss says Lembergs is not prohibited from running in elections. However, after the recent verdicts in his criminal case he will not be provided access to official secrets.
Juriss also reminded that from the start the prosecutor’s office objected to changing Lembergs’ security measure due to the state of his health, adding that it is unlikely anything will change now.
«We can see he has no serious health problems that would be a justified reason to change his security measure. The prosecutor’s office has yet to receive any official documents to justify the court’s decision. The court decided differently and it is the court’s responsibility.»
Read also: Ex-Prime Minister of Latvia leaves Union of Greens and Farmers faction
Union of Greens and Farmers picks Aivars Lembergs as PM candidate
