Latvija in brief - 2011-02-24

Interior Minister Linda Murniece (Unity) said on Feb. 22 on the Latvian State Television (LTV) news program ‘Labrit, Latvija!’ (Good Morning, Latvia!) that she made her decision to resign after June 6, and will stick to her decision, reports LETA. Murniece had planned to carry out several reforms in the interior system by June 6, following the tragic events in Jekabpils. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) has already informed Unity’s board about her decision. New Era has also expressed its support for Murniece. Commenting on possible candidates for interior minister, Murniece emphasized that names that are currently publicly discussed are those proposed by the media. She has agreed to remain interior minister until Dombrovskis chooses a candidate. On Feb. 17, Murniece handed in her resignation to Dombrovskis, explaining that she had to step down, feeling her political responsibility over recent troubles in the police department. Murniece has been interior minister for two years.

Saeima on Feb. 17 rejected an amendment to the parliament’s Rules of Procedure, suggested by the Unity party, which envisaged that all officials, with the exception of the president, chairman of the Constitutional Court and members of the Saeima Presidium, be elected by open vote, reports LETA. Thirty-seven Saeima members voted for the motion, 51 voted against, 3 abstained. Harmony Center, For a Good Latvia and Union of Greens and Farmers previously categorically objected to the amendment. These parties have a majority in the Saeima. All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (VL-TB/LNNK) voted in favor for the amendment. Unity pointed out that currently, the parliament’s Rules of Procedure envisage too many secret ballots, and the deputies take advantage of this opportunity to conceal how they vote and their motives. In many cases Saeima members’ words differ from their actions. The election procedure is non-transparent, and, as a result, many professionals refuse to run for the positions, said Unity’s representatives.

During the final three months of 2010, at least 55,600 Latvian residents had lost all hope of finding jobs, or did not know how or where to find them, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau, reports Nozare.lv. Compared to Q4 2009, this figure has increased by 11,400. 8.8 percent of the economically-active residents in Q4 2010 thought that all hope was lost. 628,700 people were economically-inactive in Q4 2010, which is 0.7 percent more than in Q4 2009. 44.3 percent of economically-inactive people were pensioners, 33 percent - pupils and students who studied full time and did not work, 7.7 percent - people who were ill for a long time or disabled. The number of economically-active people in Q4 2010, compared to Q4 2009, has decreased 1.5 percent. Two-thirds of residents, ages 15-74, were economically-active. 68.9 percent of men and 60.7 percent of women were economically-active in the final three months of 2010.