Greens/Farmers name former Ventspils mayor Lembergs as their candidate for PM

RIGA - The Union of Greens and Farmers have named former Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs (For Latvia and Ventspils), who has been charged with corruption crimes, as their candidate for Latvia's next prime minister.

Lembergs informed that he would not run in the upcoming parliamentary elections, as residents of Ventspils have elected him to the city council.

Greens/Farmers co-chairman Armands Krauze said at a news conference Monday that the lead candidates on the Greens/Farmers ticket in this year's Saeima elections include former Constitutional Court chair Gunars Kutris (Riga), farmer Kaspars Melnis (Latgale), MP Uldis Augulis (Kurzeme), Krauze (Vidzeme) and MP Viktors Valainis (Zemgale).

As reported, Lembergs was tried for massive graft, money laundering, abuse of his official powers and other crimes. In February 2021, Riga Regional Court slapped a five-year jail term, confiscation of property and a EUR 20,000 fine on Lembergs.