Entrepreneurs' organizations urge coalition against replacing Vitenbergs

• Published date: 17 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

Several entrepreneurs' organizations are urging the government coalition against replacing Economics Minister Janis Vitenbergs (National Alliance), according to a statement released by the Latvian Employers Confederation (LDDK).

In the statement, entrepreneurs indicate that in less than two years Vitenbergs has had to deal with at least three unprecedented crises: the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, the steep rise in energy prices and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the economy.

Affected by the war in Ukraine and international sanctions on Russia and Belarus, which caused supply chain disruptions, pushed up energy prices and led to other serious issues, the entrepreneurs' organizations together with the Economics Ministry started active cooperation to tackle these issues, and now it is essential for them to continue this work, the statement says.

The entrepreneurs also highly value cooperation with Vitenbergs in formats where decisions are taken on Covid-19 restrictions. On these issues the economics minister has been defending entrepreneurs' interests, objecting to some excessively harsh restrictions.

The entrepreneurs' organizations describe their current cooperation with Vitenbergs as good and consider the demand for the economics minister's resignation baseless at a time when a refocusing of the economy is underway and work...