Olav Cers: “A political decision must be made that the fence is a matter of first necessity”

“At the moment, one of the reasons for the delay in the construction of the fence is that procurements are held, then businessmen argue, appeal, because it is a big project that also brings a lot of money to the builders,” commented sworn lawyer Olavs Cers in the TV24 program “Press Club”, discussing on the current topic related to the construction of the eastern border of Latvia, which has been delayed.

Of course, this is logical, because “a businessman fights for money, works for money”, added Cers. However, due to such and other considerations, unfortunately, the construction of the eastern border of Latvia has been delayed.

“However, there are situations in which the state can apply emergency conditions and not conduct a procurement, not hold a tender, but find a way to organize defense works and defense structures vitally needed by the state without procurement tenders,” says attorney Cers.

Taking into account the law on procurement and other regulations, according to attorney Cera, one of the exceptions when procurement tenders may not be held is the needs of national defense, and even more so if they are extraordinary circumstances.

“If the war is happening near our borders, I think it is close to emergency conditions, at least in some area, then, of course, the lawyers of the Cabinet of Ministers or Saeima lawyers can study it much more, but for me as an average citizen and as a lawyer of civil rights and other fields seems like it’s not impossible!” Cers emphasized.

“There has to be a political decision that a fence is a matter of first necessity, just like buying armored vehicles or ammunition or something else, and do it and that’s it! To change its basis – instead of holding a competition and waiting until everyone is ready, and then the fence will be at the end of 2025, but to determine it as a priority military structure and to build it without a competition and in a sufficiently fast time. I think that this is understandable and no one will object to it,” lawyer Cers is sure, discussing on TV24’s “Press Club” program about how Latvia can build a fence on the eastern border faster.

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