Bordans claims attempts to squeeze New Conservative Party out of government

RIGA - Justice Minister and leader of the New Conservative Party (JKP) Janis Bordans claims attempts are being made to squeeze JKP out of the government.

Commenting on the budget drafting process, Bordans said in an interview with LNT TV channel that JKP has always regarded work on the government not only as a distribution of public funds but also as implementation of structural reforms, which in his opinion should include easing the tax burden on labor and raising the minimum wage in order to combat shadow economy.

“If these issues are not included, it makes me think that perhaps adherents of old politics do not like a force like the New Conservative Party being in the government,” Bordans said.

In his view, the first attempt to squeeze JKP out of the government coalition was the reappointment of the State Security Service’s chief without consulting the New Conservative Party, which JKP considers a breach of the coalition agreement.

“Maybe there were hopes that we will disappear. Maybe a new situation is being provoked again,” the justice minister said.

Asked about the possibility of JKP being replaced with the Union of Greens and Farmers, Bordans said he has got an impression that attempts are being made to cause JKP to “leave the government because of its principled attitude”. “We are not yet in the situation where it’s over. We still continue to persuade at least the prime minister,” Bordans said.

He stressed that JKP wants to persuade Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) that the party’s proposals should be taken into consideration and that they would benefit the whole society.

As reported, following disagreements over Normunds Mezviets’ reappointment as chief of the State Security Service, JKP announced it had shown the Karins-led Cabinet a “yellow card”.

Asked if the New Conservative Party could give the government a “red card”, one of JKP leaders Juta Strike said that all issues had been openly discussed among the coalition parties, and "at least for now, there are no grounds to even think about any red cards."