Latvian Environment Minister does not back down; waits for ...

Edmunds Sprudzs

Development of amendments to the law in order to limit the authority of criminally prosecuted deputies is a good sign for potential public servants to think more about being honest, believes Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Edmunds Sprudzs.

In his interview to 900 seconds programme of LNT, he denied the claim that he is trying to influence political forces in such a way. He emphasized that his goal is to influence only criminally prosecuted deputies who interrupt the normal work of municipalities.

At the same time, Sprudzs admits that he has no rights to ?run and hide?. He also said it is too soon to talk about his resignation as long as this question remains unresolved in the Saeima. The minister said this project is very important to him.

Reform Party?s Saeima faction?s Chairman Edmunds Demiters said: ?According to what representatives of coalition parties publicly said during today?s Coalition Parties Cooperation Council, not one of them is against the limitation of the authority of criminally prosecuted deputies. This is why the actions of the National Alliance ? not voting in favour of the proposed amendments ? seem odd?.

Representatives of the coalition promised to find a solution to this matter. On Monday, after the Coalition Cooperation Council meeting, Saeima Chairwoman and Unity leader Solvita Aboltina told the journalists: and agreement is reached to have the bill forwarded for further review.

She also added that changes to the law cannot be created in order to solve some specific situation. They need to be universal; ones that would support any political situation, LETA reports.

Coalition partners will be submitting proposals for the third reading of amendments to the Law on the Status of the Deputy of the Republic City Council and Municipality Council. According to her, a solution that will satisfy the entirety of the ruling coalition will be found.

As it is known opposition parties had made sure that deputies accused of serious crimes would continue to remain in their posts. In spite of the fact that the vote took place on ?an emotionally sensitive? date ? May 9 ? representatives of Harmony Centre, Union of Greens and Farmers and the National Alliance had managed to go through this issue without conflicts.

This initiative was supported by 38 parliamentarians, 41 voted against, five abstained from the vote.

Proposals were not supported by deputies of parties of the opposition ? Harmony Centre (HC), Union of Greens and Farmers (UGF), as well as some deputies of the coalition ? Janis Dombrava (National Alliance), Raivis Dzintars (National Alliance) and some others.

The proposal of the commission that developed the amendments to the Law On the Status of the Deputy of the Republic City Council and Municipality Council provided the following: if criminal proceedings are initiated against an official for committing serious crimes, the official loses the right to participate in municipal, commission and committee meetings.

It is also provided that these limitations will remain in power until criminal proceedings have ended. It is planned to have the official be paid only part of his usual salary during this period. This initiative caused wide discussions in the parliament. It was positively viewed and proposed to be supported by coalition officials, while opposition and some of the National Alliance members criticized it.

According to Raivis Dzintars of the National Alliance, people?s lives should not be put into question only to hurt Aivars Lembergs a little.

Unity deputy Lolita Cigane emphasized that this bill is not being pushed because of one or a group of deputies ? it is meant to apply to all municipal deputies. ?Those who claim this bill is meant to be used against specific people, in reality lobby the interests of those people. They do not think about benefiting society?, ? she says.

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Source: http://bnn-news.com/environment-minister-down-waits-coalitions-proposals-94937

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