Vejonis: No reason to talk about crisis in government

RIGA - There are no grounds at this point to talk about any crisis in the government, President Raimonds Vejonis said after his weekly meeting with Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis (Greens/Farmers) today.

The president indicated that a source of health care funding is being sought and that his workgroup has come up with a number of proposals which are now being debated by coalition partners. The outcome of these negotiations remains to be seen, but in Vejonis’ opinion, there are no reason to talk about a crisis in the government, because there are no signs of it.

“Since the government is facing these tough jobs and decisions – it has to simultaneously reform the tax system, health care system and education system – for the government, this is a time of major challenges,” the president said, adding that the negotiations have to be long in order to adopt weighed and well-grounded decisions, but that it does suggest of the coalition parties’ weakness.

At the same time, it is also important to ensure that the tough decisions are not “torpedoed” by a political party that might want to avoid unpopular moves ahead of next year’s Saeima elections, President Vejonis said.

He also believes that the issue of health care funding has to be tackled in the context of the planned tax reform and that decisions on these two issues have to be taken simultaneously. “The health sector’s employees also need clarity on how health care will be funded starting next year,” Vejonis said.

Prime Minister Kucinskis said in an interview with LNT commercial TV channel this morning that none of the coalition partners wants to bring down the current government, and a solution for the tax reform, including health care funding, will be found.

The prime minister said that his meeting with the coalition partners on Tuesday focused on possible funding sources for the tax and health care reform. The coalition partners were unanimous that a solution has to be found.

“We agreed to finish the work next Wednesday, we have run out of time, because both medics and patients are waiting for a solution,” the prime minister said.