
Riga City Council has yet to officially discuss possible mayoral candidates
Factions represented in Riga City Council still have not held official talks regarding potential mayoral candidates, politicians say.
Harmony faction’s leader Anna Vladova notes that the city council is taking a pause. On top of that, the party’s faction has yet to meet to decide on future actions nor has the party discussed the possibility of picking a candidate from one of its members. Previously Vladova said she is prepared to continue working with Honour to Serve Riga. She was evasive in regards to support of candidates from the opposition.
Valērijs Petrovs, head of the Independent Deputies Faction, says there have not been any official meetings with other factions.
When asked if the faction could pick one of its members as a mayoral candidate, Petrovs admitted that this is an «open topic». «Currently our faction has a vice-mayor and a head of a committee. We should wait until a real candidate appears. Once this happens, we will decide on supporting them. Currently it is unclear if the opposition has any plans to present any offers, nor is it clear if Harmony or any other party has someone specific in mind,» says Petrovs.
Jānis Ozols, leader of the New Conservative Party’s faction in Riga City Council, claims representatives of the opposition have not discussed any candidates.
«We have agreed to not push forward. Instead we will observe developments from the side. The majority of the opposition maintains the position that they shouldn’t propose their own mayoral candidate. Even Latvia’s Development has yet to invite us to any discussions,» says Ozols, adding that following the exclusion of two deputies from NCP, the opposition’s options of electing their own mayor have dropped even more.
As it is known, on 20 June the opposition in Riga City Council succeeded in dismissing Riga’s Mayor Dainis Turlais. He was in his post for less than a month.
31 deputies voted in favour of Turlais’ dismissal – nearly the entire opposition, non-party deputy Oskars Putniņš and the Independent Deputies Faction, which consists of four politicians excluded from Harmony – Valērijs Petrovs, Rosļikovs, Vitālijs Dubovs and Vadims Baraņņiks.
If no new mayor is elected in the next two months, Latvia’s Saeima will have the right to initiate the city council’s dissolution.
Related posts
- Riga City Council’s independent deputies may consider working with HSR
- Riga’s mayoral candidate braces for snap elections
- Riga.lv foundation to be liquidated within next eight months
- Unity leader says party will do everything to ensure emergency elections in Riga
- HSR will try again. Party plans to pick Burovs as their mayoral candidate
- Independent faction: Honour to Serve Riga has used its opportunity to rule Riga
- New force in Riga: excluded party members and independent deputy form a new faction
- Riga city Mayor Turlais loses post in no-confidence vote
- New Riga concert hall, pay rise to cultural workers – priorities of nominee for Latvian Culture Minister
- Ex-Harmony members urge parties in Riga to resign from posts and start over
- Riga City Council has yet to achieve much progress in security majority rule
Baltic States and Poland agree to push Rail Baltica as the main transport policy priority

On Friday, 6 December, Baltic and Polish transport ministers agreed during a meeting to continue pushing Rail Baltica as the main transport policy priority in the region, as confirmed by Latvia’s Transport Ministry.
Bank: Latvian residents have become more active with making savings

Following increased economic growth, there has been an improvement with Latvian residents’ financial reserves, according to data compiled by Swedbank. Nearly 17% of them have managed to save up money worth three or more wage amounts (2% more than last year), according to data from Swedbank.
Brexit – one of most spectacular mistakes in EU history, Tusk says

Donald Tusk, the former President of the European Council, has stated that the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union has been a spectacular mistake after a campaign of misinformation.
Environment Protection Minister to request Riga City Council’s dismissal

Latvia’s Environment Protection and Regional Development Ministry has decided to request dismissal of Riga City Council because according to the ministry the municipal administration has failed to perform one of its autonomous functions – provide carrying of household waste.
Estonia’s prime minister: Rail Baltica project unlikely to be finished on time

It is unlikely European standard railway width project Rail Baltica will be finished on time – by 2026, admits Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas.
Estonia points to human rights violations in occupied parts of Georgia, Ukraine

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu has noted in a meeting of the OSCE that violations of international rights and fundamental rights along with the continued crises in Georgia and Ukraine endanger security in the wider region of OSCE countries.
For the first time since 2003, woman possibly infected with rabies dies in Latvia

A woman that was possibly infected with rabies has died in Daugavpils, as reported by Disease Prevention and Control. This may be the first death caused by rabies in Latvia since 2003.
French pension strike engages 800 000 people

In France, the first day of mass demonstrations and public sector strike has involved over 800 000 in marches in many cities of the country, as protesters seek to force President Emmanuel Macron not to push forward with pension reform.
Interior Affairs Minister wants to use modern technologies to combat contraband

To ensure a more effective way to combat against contraband, Latvia’s Interior Affairs Minister Sandis Ģirģens wants to use modern technologies that would work in parallel to customs officers. He said as much in an interview to LTV programme Rīta Panorāma on Friday, 6 December.
Ušakovs says he wants to run in Riga City Council snap elections

Member of the European Parliament and ex-Mayor of Riga Nils Ušakovs says he is prepared to start in snap elections in Riga if they are organized, as confirmed by Harmony chairman Jānis Urbanovičs.
Germany’s Merkel to visit Auschwitz Holocaust camp for first time

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has headed the German government since 2005, will on Friday, December 6, visit the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
VID officials will need to have spotless reputation, Saeima decides

From now on, officials of the State Revenue Service will need to have a spotless reputation. This is decided by Saeima’s amendments to the Law on State Revenue Service approved in the final reading on 5 December, as BNN was told by Saeima’s press-service.
Brazil at risk of losing vote in UN General Assembly because of high debts

There are risks that because of failure to pay its debts to the United Nations Organization, Brazil could lose its voting rights in the UN General Assembly, Reuters reports.
Strained Lithuanian budget is desperate for additional sources of revenues

With the adoption of the new year’s budget skidding, two major professional groups – teachers and doctors – have had this week their demand for higher salaries satisfied, thus deepening the holes in the shallowing budget. Where to scoop up money to patch all the gaps and satisfy all the demands? This week, Seimas, Lithuanian legislature, was in a frantic search for additional sources of revenues.
Estonian Police and Border Guard Board official detained on suspicion of embezzlement

Estonian Internal Security Service has detained a senior officer of Police and Border Guard Board at the South Prefecture on suspicion of document forgery and embezzlement of more than EUR 250 000, as reported by Estonian public media ERR.
Saeima supports government’s decision to extend state of emergency in Riga

On Thursday, 5 December, Saeima agreed with the government’s decision to extend the state of emergency with waste management in Riga’s administrative territory until 12 March 2020, as reported by the Saeima’s press-service.
Flu infection rates remain low in Latvia, but infection spread continues nonetheless

A total of 30 clinically confirmed flu infection cases were registered in Latvia’s healthcare institutions. Nevertheless, virus activity remains low in the country, according to the latest monitoring report on influenza and acute upper respiratory tract infections compiled by Disease Prevention and Control Centre.
France braces for intense protests over Macron’s intended pension reform

France shaken by this decade’s biggest protests in which trade unions urge other residents to oppose French President Emmanuel Macron’s intended pension reform, Reuters reports.
Marguerite Fund to sell Conexus shares to Japanese Marubeni fund

Shareholder in Latvian natural gas transmission and storage system operator Conexus Baltic Grid, Marguerite Fund plans to sell its owned 29.06% of Conexus shares to Japanese company Marubeni fund.
Saeima’s majority may move towards Riga City Council’s dismissal

The majority of Latvia’s Saeima may vote towards dismissing Riga City Council, according to unofficial information from LETA. There is also a more reserved position on this, but generally it is admitted that Riga City Council’s dismissal process will be initiated.
National Economy Committee invites reviewing Rail Baltica project’s management structure

«Considering the unstable situation and lasting stagnation with the project’s management, the National Economy Committee invites Transport Ministry to review the structure of RB Rail,» says Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee chairman Jānis Vitenbergs.
«Riga’s residents overpay.» Kleins proposes terminating contract with Rīgas karte

Riga City Council vice-chairman and shareholder in municipal company LLC Rīgas satiksme Druvis Kleins, has ordered the company’s lawyers to assess the option of quickly terminating the contract with LLC Rīgas karte, as confirmed by Kleins, who represents For Riga! bloc in the city council.
Newspaper: Russia plans to deploy a motorized division in Kaliningrad next year

Russia has plans to deploy a motorized division in Kaliningrad Oblast, which shares borders with Poland and Lithuania, as reported by Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Ex-president says conflicts with territorial reform surface where the rich refuse to share

The objective of the territorial reform remains unchanged – forming economically more efficient administrative territories. This means creating counties able to sustain themselves and develop economically. Conflicts with the reform usually surface in areas, where the rich refuse to share. There are also situations when the poor want to receive and do nothing on their own, BNN was told by ex-President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers.
October’s industrial production output in Latvia increases 3%

Compared to October 2018, industrial production output increased by 3 % in October 2019, according to calendar adjusted data at constant prices.
Recommended
Latest
- Bank: Latvian residents have become more active with making savings
- Environment Protection Minister to request Riga City Council’s dismissal
- For the first time since 2003, woman possibly infected with rabies dies in Latvia
- Interior Affairs Minister wants to use modern technologies to combat contraband
- Ušakovs says he wants to run in Riga City Council snap elections
- VID officials will need to have spotless reputation, Saeima decides
- Saeima supports government’s decision to extend state of emergency in Riga
- Flu infection rates remain low in Latvia, but infection spread continues nonetheless
- Marguerite Fund to sell Conexus shares to Japanese Marubeni fund
- Saeima’s majority may move towards Riga City Council’s dismissal
Most read
- Latvian government extends state of emergency with waste management in Riga
- Kaspars Podiņš suspected of taking no measures in Olainfarm case and stalling other national level cases in VID
- Ex-president says conflicts with territorial reform surface where the rich refuse to share
- BNN summary of the week: Cigarette mafia. Promises in Riga City Council. Rail Baltica in danger
- LTV: those involved in «cigarette mafia» scandal have ties to Ušakovs’ ex-advisor Dzanuškāns
- Saeima supports government’s decision to extend state of emergency in Riga
- Average salary in Latvia reportedly EUR 801 in Q3 of 2019
- Kleins: we may have to review who receives public transport discounts in Riga
- For the first time since 2003, woman possibly infected with rabies dies in Latvia
- Marguerite Fund to sell Conexus shares to Japanese Marubeni fund
Most commented
-
Nekā personīga: drop in Russian freights may put at risk railway electrification in Latvia | 1
-
Prime Minister: next EU budget’s cohesion funding for Latvia may drop by one billion euros | 1
- Saeima supports government’s decision to extend state of emergency in Riga
- Average salary in Latvia reportedly EUR 801 in Q3 of 2019
- Kleins: we may have to review who receives public transport discounts in Riga
- VID officials will need to have spotless reputation, Saeima decides
- Competition Council applies a fine of EUR 700 000 on Depo
- SEB Bank clients now able to use mobile devices to pay for goods and services
- Ušakovs says he wants to run in Riga City Council snap elections
- Latvia’s ruling coalition picks Kazāks to govern Bank of Latvia
Top 5 Business news
Kaspars Podiņš suspected of taking no measures in Olainfarm case and stalling other national level cases in VID
BNN summary of the week: Cigarette mafia. Promises in Riga City Council. Rail Baltica in danger
LTV: those involved in «cigarette mafia» scandal have ties to Ušakovs’ ex-advisor Dzanuškāns
Week in Lithuania: Seimas lowers election threshold, youngsters vandalise mosque, Vinted claims «unicorn» status
Kleins: we may have to review who receives public transport discounts in Riga
Top 5 Social news
Latvian government extends state of emergency with waste management in Riga
Kaspars Podiņš suspected of taking no measures in Olainfarm case and stalling other national level cases in VID
Ex-president says conflicts with territorial reform surface where the rich refuse to share
BNN summary of the week: Cigarette mafia. Promises in Riga City Council. Rail Baltica in danger
Newspaper: Russia plans to deploy a motorized division in Kaliningrad next year
Top 5 World news
BNN summary of the week: Cigarette mafia. Promises in Riga City Council. Rail Baltica in danger
Newspaper: Russia plans to deploy a motorized division in Kaliningrad next year
Turkey upholds veto against NATO Baltic defence plans; Lithuania hopes for compromise
Marguerite Fund to sell Conexus shares to Japanese Marubeni fund
Iceland’s prime minister urges making welfare a budget priority
Top 5 Video
Austria’s first female Chancellor to head government until snap elections
Hungary involves Estonia in efforts to fend off migration deals
Estonian expedition Antarctica 200 leaves for six-month journey
Captain arrested over Budapest ship collision as search for victims continues
Video: European Spitzenkandidaten debate key EU issues in Brussels
Newest galleries
Newest comments
-
Zerry @ 2019-12-04 17:12:22
-
Gunther @ 2019-12-03 15:02:14
Wannabe big and powerful but still mentally so tiny little and scared of big world.
-
Long term benefits vs. quartals @ 2019-12-03 11:27:38
Changes per quartals cannot be argumented with chancelling an visionaly long term project.
-
Gebobrey @ 2019-12-02 08:00:53
What’s up my dudes ️♂️️♂️♂️♂️♂️♀️♀️♀️♀️♂️♂️♀️♂️♂️♂️♀️♀️♀️♂️♂️
-
jafar iqbal @ 2019-12-01 18:29:34
