RIGA - Einars Repse, leader of Latvia's center-right New Era party, hit and killed a pedestrian late on Sept. 20 while driving along the Riga-Daugavpils highway.
The MP said he would abstain from participation in the pre-election campagins, and gave his condolences to the victim's relatives.
"At present I am not able to think about politics," Repse said, adding that people would understand.
The accident happened at 10:30 p.m. in the district of Aizkraukle. Repse was driving a Honda CRV and hit a 26-year old man walking along the road. A criminal procedure has been launched.
The victim was possibly under the influence of alcohol, Aizkraukle road police spokeswoman Sanita Zimele said, as he was walking half-naked along the middle of the road. She added that he wasn't wearing reflectors.
"The tragic accident was unavoidable," Repse said, adding that he called an ambulance and the police directly after the incident. "I cannot say what that person was thinking, walking like that along the middle of the road with no reflectors," said Repse.
The New Era does not yet know anything about the victim, but he plans to visit his relatives.
Police found no traces of alcohol on Repse's breath, and blood tests will soon reveal whether there was any alcohol in his blood.
