Kucinskis: Current practice when one person may hold high-ranking positions at several state companies to be revised

RIGA - The Cross-Sectoral Coordination Center could be tasked with evaluating the current practice when a person may hold high-ranking positions at several state companies, as Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis (Greens/Farmers) told Latvian Television this morning.

When asked whether it is an acceptable practice that, for instance, Martin Sedlacky is a member of the national airline airBaltic board and at the same time also works on Latvenergo council, Kucinskis said that he had also thought about this.

"Yes, I have thought about it too. I have a very high opinion of [RB Rail CEO Baiba] Rubesa, who will have very much to do to implement the Rail Baltica project. She, too, is a member of Latvenergo council at the moment. It probably has to be looked into, how much these people can work at all" in one job, said Kucinskis. He added that it would not be an evaluation of specific individuals' performance, but the matter would be considered in its totality.

The Cross-Sectoral Coordination Center, which is in charge of state companies and is responsible to the prime minister, will have to do the evaluation, said Kucinskis, adding that this could happen in the near future already.

As reported, last month the Economics Ministry confirmed power utility Latvenergo's council. Former DNB Banka head in Latvia Andris Ozolins is chairman of the council. Members of the Latvenergo council are RB Rail CEO Rubesa, Valsts Nekustamie Ipasumi (State Real Estate) council member Martins Bicevskis, former Riga Airport CEO Andris Liepins, and airBaltic board member Sedlacky, a citizen of Slovakia.