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LCCI: It is currently irresponsible to change the Minister of Economy

During the growing economic crisis and the difficulties caused by the war, it is irresponsible to change the Minister of Economics Jānis Vitenbergs (NA), who is responsible for solving many currently very important issues, the representatives of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) point out.

The LCCI points out that the Minister of Economics is responsible for addressing many important issues, such as the energy crisis and the development of alternative energy, and will largely determine how Latvians live in the winter season and how the economic consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine will be overcome. At present, the replacement of a minister is a political irresponsibility, as it would delay work on priority issues.

According to LCCI President Aigars Rostovsky, during the war in Ukraine and the growing economic crisis, change the minister in charge of such important things as energy and supplies, which directly affects how the country will live this fall and winter – whether people will have warmth or entrepreneurs. security of energy supply and how we will survive the crisis caused by the war are politically irresponsible.

“Although initially the cooperation with the Minister was not very successful, because he lacked experience and understanding of what is important, now he has worked and both the LCCI and the Latvian Employers’ Confederation (LDDK) have established close cooperation with Wittenberg,” Rostovskis comments.

LDDK General Director Liga Mengelson also previously stated that she did not support Wittenberg’s resignation.

It has already been reported that Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV) has decided to demand the resignation of Wittenberg due to a “blackmail attempt” by the National Union (NA). The NA will be able to nominate a new candidate for the post of Minister of Economy. At the same time, Kariņš allows the NA to decide for himself which of his ministers to replace. The prime minister explained that Wittenberg had now been elected the “youngest” NA minister for resignation.

It can be concluded from Kariņš that he sees the blackmail in the NA’s call for the resignation of the now resigned Minister of the Interior Maria Golubeva (AP), otherwise the NA promises to leave the government.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the goal was to restore political balance, so the NA would also have to replace one minister. As the NA itself did not name any of its ministers, Kariņš has decided to demand the resignation of Witenberg, the youngest minister, both in office and in his years.

Kariņš said that the government would not be able to work with such a “blackmail element”, as it would open the way for any partner to go “ultimatum” in the future, which would mean that the government would become incapacitated in the short term.

“Without such a change of minister, it is not possible to achieve a political balance in the coalition, because the stability of the government depends on it having a full composition and a majority in the Saeima. In this case, the balance was upset, and explained the politician.

It is also reported that Golubeva decided to resign herself. The politician learned on Monday, May 16, that without waiting for the analytical report of the Ministry of the Interior on the work of the interior services on May 9 and 10, the Prime Minister has succumbed to pressure from the NA and is no longer ready to support her work. In these circumstances, she has decided to return as a Member of the Seimas.

Last week, the Saeima faction and the board of the NAE demanded that the Prime Minister dismiss Golubev in connection with the situation on May 9 and 10 at the Soviet monument in Pardaugava, where, among other things, people supporting the Russian aggression were allowed to gather.

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