Riga City Council members from National Alliance and Latvian Regional Alliance to demand explanations from Stakis on his decision to fly LGBTQ flag on City Hall

RIGA - Riga City Council members from the National Alliance and the Latvian Alliance of Regions (LRA) will demand explanations from Riga Mayor Martins Stakis (Progressives/For) to fly the LGBTQ flag on the Riga City Council building, LETA learned from Riga Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance).

He said that the Riga City Council coalition meeting will be held on June 6, and the National Alliance and LRA will demand Stakis' explanations over the flag. "It is not about the flag, but about making one-person decisions," said Ratnieks, adding that after the explanations are heard, the National Alliance and LRA will assess the attitude of the coalition partners and decide on further actions.

The Riga Pride events are over and the flag has been removed from the City Hall building.

Members of the NA/LRA faction point out that Riga Mayor Martins Stakis has acted arbitrarily and undemocratically, imposing his will on the majority without discussion within the Riga City Council coalition or faction council. Ratnieks emphasizes that the Riga City Council is not in the hands of one party, and the majority of the city council does not symbolize this ideology. 

Stakis said earlier that the hanging of the LGBTQ flag in front of the Riga City Council building is his order, in solidarity with Latvian citizens who will go on to the Riga Pride march today to stand up for human rights, and against violence and discrimination.

"Riga is the capital of Latvia, a country of the European Union, and, just like in other European cities, this flag is hung in front of the city hall before the pride parade. In Vilnius, even recently, the city council was lit up in rainbow colors. We are happy to be united with our allies - the countries of the European Union, the United States and Canadian embassies in Latvia," says Stakis.