Scandal in the Jelgava County Council: it is expected that it will be very difficult to create a new coalition

Reprimanding the chairman for unethical behavior, it should have been decided on his suspension already on Wednesday, but shortly before the meeting, Lasmanis resigned himself, which he also informed his colleagues at the meeting: in order, my authority ends at this moment.”

Just a week ago, Lasmanis said that he saw no reason to leave his post. “What has changed is that there is a political agreement, there is a different political arrangement and I do not want to hinder the next mayor’s inauguration in any way, I wish him success and I will support any colleague who will be next in this position,” he says.

The previous partners are hearing about it for the first time.

“Seven political forces have been elected in the Duma and in what way the forces will be able to agree, it will be formed. (TV3: But at the moment there is no agreement on a new coalition?) I have not signed anything, no,” says Ilze Vītola (LZS), deputy chairman of Jelgava County Council

“There is no new coalition – I don’t know about one, at least, and your colleagues just told me that there is some kind of meeting where the new mayor is discussed, I don’t know, I am not invited to that,” says Jelgava County Council member Dainis Liepiņš (LRA).

Lasmanis does not see any ethical violations in his actions even now and still believes that it was a defamation campaign on the part of executive director Ligas Lonertes. Lasmanis will also apply to law enforcement authorities for possible violations in her work, such as the use of a company car for personal needs, and possible damage to municipal property. “Yesterday, I submitted an application to the State Police, State Control and KNAB.”

The Farmers’ Union of Latvia, from which the executive director was elected, does not see a basis for evaluating Lonerte’s work. Other coalition forces are still cautious.

“If she has violated the law and it is detected by one of the institutions, the position will definitely be analyzed and a decision will be made regarding compliance, in this situation the three questions that Mr. Lasmani submitted to us some time ago are definitely debatable for each of them who have been there, but neither I nor LRA colleagues are the ones who have the right to evaluate at the moment,” said Liepiņš.

Meanwhile, the opposition believes that the suitability of the executive director for the position should definitely be evaluated, especially considering their political ties with the parties in the council’s power so far. According to them, the existing coalition has completely exhausted its resources.

When asked whether they are ready to join a coalition, Andris Ozoliņš, representing the Green Party of Latvia, answers: “We have submitted constructive proposals so far, but they have been rejected. If it is different in the future, we will work.”

The councilors of Jelgava region must select a new chairman within two months.