Gaidis Berzins and Valdis Dombrovskis

Thursday, June 21, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis accepts the resignation of Justice Minister Gaidis Berzins.

During their meeting, it was discussed how the coalition will continue functioning and what its next steps will be. Dombrovskis and Berzins both agreed that the parties need to meet and discuss mutual cooperation. Dombrovskis also pointed what is important is the fact that the national union is ready to continue working in the new government and the meeting of the two parties could take place on Monday, June 24.

«It is obvious that there have been some errors in communication, separate understandings of issues that have led to this situation,»- the Prime Minister said, adding that Unity will correct its cooperation mechanism with the national union during political consultancies.

«In the end, we need to keep working. There are many important issues in relation to the development of state economy and financial stability,»- the leader of the government. Berzins, on the other hand, once again confirmed that the national union is ready to continue working in the government, but it is necessary to clarify the cooperation agreement in relation to the differences in the understanding of issues of property restitution.

When asked whether there was political pressure dictating his decision, Berzins replied by saying: «Let’s call it – differences in the understanding of the current situation,» adding, that he will try to resolve these misunderstandings.

Until a new Justice Minister is appointed, his duties will be carried out by Minister of Culture Zaneta Jaunzeme-Grende.

It should be noted that the Latvian Jewish Communities Executive Council Director Gita Umanovska has admitted that the Council does not blame Latvia neither for seizing property, nor for the holocaust, but believes that it would be ethical and just to return the Jewish community the social property that belonged to the Jewish organizations before their nationalization during the Soviet Union occupation on June 17, 1940 and which ended up in the ownership of the Latvian state in August 23, 1991.

BNN previously reported that Justice Minister Berzins announced his resignation, because his and Prime Minister’s opinion on the matter of compensating the Jewish property are too different.

On Wednesday, June 20, sources close to the National Union gave hints that the issue of reinstituting the Jewish property could lead to greater changes in the government before Midsummer. Berzins’ announcement of his resignation only confirmed the week long talks behind the scenes that the government tippers’ role is entrusted to nationalists were not just rumours spread for the purpose of shaking the government. The union probably received promises to gain control over the Economy Ministry after larger reformations in the government.

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