(w/ADD) - Vitenbergs yielded too much to the interests of the business lobby - PM

• Published date: 19 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

(added Vitenbergs' comments in final two paragraphs)

RIGA, May 19 (LETA) - Former Economy Minister Janis Vitenbergs (National Alliance) yielded too much to the interests of the business lobby, especially in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) told Latvian Television today.

The Prime Minister stated that during the Covid-19 crisis, when entrepreneurs applied for support, the Economy Ministry, perhaps not fully evaluating how this could best be carried out, was too eager to provide such support.

"This is also reflected in the fact that we are seeing business lobby organizations speaking well about the minister. Of course, they are speaking well, because they had a member of the government who actually always repeated their positions. I do not think that this was quite right, because the minister has to oversee and lead the sector, instead of the sector leading the minister," said Karins.

t the same time, he said that Vitenbergs was actively involved in solving the energy crisis.

ssessing the events of the past week within the coalition, Karins expressed the opinion that such a situation, in which the National Alliance demands the resignation of a minister with "blackmail", will not be repeated, because it is now clear that if such an attempt is once again made - it will be dealt with in a similar manned.

"As head of government, I cannot work in a situation where one is blackmailing another, someone else is starting to blackmail me. Either we agree to work on an equal footing or there is no cooperation. In these circumstances, I believe it is irresponsible to allow the government to simply collapse. It...