Micerevskis submits petition calling for Pavluts' resignation to Saeima

2021-10-27
LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Saeima member Maris Micerevskis on Wednesday submitted a petition to the parliament, blaming Health Minister Daniels Pavluts (Development/For) for a poor handling of the Covid-19 crisis and calling for his resignation.

Earlier on Wednesday, Micerevskis together with MP Didzis Smits collected signatures under the petition demanding Pavluts' resignation.

According to the Saeima Rules of Procedure, the parliament could consider the no confidence motion against Pavluts next week.

"I call on Daniels Pavluts to resign, and For Development/For member Andris Skride, who is a health professional respected by physicians, could become the next health minister," said Micerevskis.

Micerevskis indicated that "unfortunately the situation has not improved", because an investigation into vaccine purchases fell through, and the vaccination pace in Latvia is among the slowest in the European Union.

Micerevskis emphasized the inefficiency of the vaccination campaign, the failure to introduce the traffic lights principle and to increase hospitals' capacity. "We are now in a situation where mobilization of health professionals is considered, and if any of them refuse, they will face criminal liability," he said.

In the opinion of Micerevskis, the health minister has not been listening to health experts, nor have Pavluts' vaccination goals been achieved. Furthermore, hospitals are not ready for higher numbers of Covid-19 patients, and Latvia is in first place in the world in terms of new Covid-19 cases.

As reported, Micerevskis was elected to the 13th Saeima from For Development/For ticket, but later quit For Latvia's Development party, claiming that the party had received illegal financing. The party denied the allegation.

LETA also reported, the Latvian Medical Association (LAB) is demanding the resignation of Pavluts, taking into account the long-term mistakes of the Ministry of Health in crisis management and the planned announcement of the mobilization of medics.