MP Gobzems banned from attending six Saeima sittings

RIGA - Saeima decided today to ban MP Aldis Gobzems (For Him and Her) from attending six Saeima sittings for violation of ethics.

The proposal was submitted to the parliament by the mandates, ethics and submissions committee before Midsummer. Gobzems in response promised to put down his lawmaker's mandate, but did not do it.

Gobzems has been punished for his comments against MP Sandis Riekstins (Conservatives). Gobzems apologized at the committee meeting, saying that he "should not have responded to a provocation", but said that there are no grounds to punish him.

Gobzems said that the decision to ban him from attending Saeima meetings has been made "because I was and I am the only real opposition in the history of independent Latvia".

As reported. lawmakers Uldis Budrikis (Conservatives), Marija Golubeva (Developmenr/For) and Iveta Benhena-Bekena (New Unity) called earlier to launch a probe against Gobzems for calling Riekstins names during the Saeima meeting.