The network of electric vehicle charging stations created by the Ministry of Agriculture, costing 3.1 million euros, once provoked one of the sharpest reactions from the State Audit Office, public media report.
An audit showed that the ministry could have spent at least ten times less on these purposes. During the procurement for the construction of the stations, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Agriculture was Raivis Kronbergs, who now heads the State Chancellery. His disciplinary responsibility for that procurement has not yet been assessed, reports the Latvian Television program "De Facto." Following the State Audit Office's review, an internal service check was initiated at the Ministry of Agriculture; however, Kronbergs managed to avoid it as he was promoted and became the head of the State Chancellery.
It was precisely the change of workplace that became the reason for the ministry not to assess his responsibility, even though the new position should not have been an obstacle to evaluating his disciplinary responsibility, as he continued to work in public service. When Kronbergs was already working at the State Chancellery, there were two individuals who could have initiated a service check regarding possible violations on his part - the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister.
That is why, in February of this year, the State Audit Office sent them letters requesting to initiate such a check. However, the head of the Ministry of Finance, Arvils Aseradens, did not initiate the check. "How many checks can state institutions conduct on the same issue? This process has already been initiated by the Bureau for Prevention and Combating Corruption, which is the highest supervisory authority. We consider it impractical for the Ministry of Finance to conduct another check on the same issues," stated the minister.
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