Even though the most significant political shocks are related to the resignation of Justice Minister Gaidis Berzins and the threat this fact poses to the stability in the government, an even bigger storm was caused behind the scenes of political intrigues by the recent Saeima ballot on the increase of the state owned Mortgage Bank’s capital by 25 million LVL.

The partner of the coalition, leader of the Saeima faction of the Reform Party Viaceslavs Dombrovskis, announced that even though he was against the non-transparent procedure, he would support this decision. As a result – 53 coalition deputies voted for, while 38 voted against, including deputies from the Greens’ and Farmers’ Union and Harmony Centre.

Shortly before the vote, Finance Minister Andris Vilks warned his party that he would resign in the event of a negative vote. After the vote, Vilks confirmed the information available to Pietiek.com. «I did not want to go through it as a minister, I could not bear to imagine how I could go on as a minister, if the Saeima had not supported the proposal to increase the Mortgage Bank’s capital,»- Vilks admits.

It is possible that this decision played a larger role, so that Unity would agree to review its, so far, beneficial relations with the Reform Party and would consider political compromises, by promising the Reform Party not to slow reforms at Ventspils and Riga ports. In the shadow of the threat of the Finance Minister, Unity promised the Reform party not to hamper replacement of Olafs Pulks in the Board of Riga free port.

Pulks’ authority ended on May 8 and keeping in mind clear cases of conflict of interests, which are currently being investigated by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, Economy Minister Daniels Pavluts previously stated that the Economy Ministry no longer trusts Pulks as the representative of the ministry in the port.

Even several hours before the ballot, politicians of Unity did not hide their anger towards the reserved attitude of the Reform party, which it explained with insufficient information and Unity’s pressured, rushed and insufficiently transparent procedure.

Ref: 102.109.109.2217