The issue of public transport has been inherited from previous ministers — Talis Linkaits and Janis Vitenbergs (National Alliance), stated Minister of Transport Aitis Shvinka ("Progressives") at the Saeima meeting, where the question of expressing no confidence in him was discussed, LETA reports.
Shvinka emphasized that under his predecessors, contracts for passenger transport were signed with 11 carriers across 16 lots — seven contracts in 2020, two in 2021, another seven in 2023, and two contracts were awarded by direct appointment in 2024.
This year, the contracts from 2020 were indexed, and next year, indexing of the contracts from 2021 is planned. Shvinka criticized the four-year indexing mechanism, calling it erroneous, as the contracts were developed without considering market fluctuations.
According to him, carriers that signed contracts in 2023 were already aware of the economic situation and offered dumping prices.
Shvinka pointed out that the contracts should have included annual indexing and other requirements for buses to ensure service quality. He urged those carriers who cannot meet the contract conditions to negotiate termination so that the Road Transport Administration (RTA) could announce new procurements with better conditions and pay for drivers. The society needs carriers that provide safe and quality service, the minister emphasized.
He also noted that the price per kilometer is set in conditions of free competition and is not regulated by the state, so the minister cannot change it. Shvinka intends to announce new procurements that correspond to the current market situation, find legal regulation for compensation of losses, start digitization, develop strategies for commercial and regional routes, and introduce "transport on demand" within the framework of the Social Climate Fund.
As previously reported, today at the Saeima meeting, deputies were considering a motion prepared by the opposition to express no confidence in Shvinka.
The motion was submitted by opposition deputies in connection with the provision of bus transport on regional routes.
At the last Saeima meeting, the request was supported by the majority of parliamentarians. It was voted for by 46 opposition deputies, including Skaidrīte Abrahama, elected from the "Progressives," while the coalition managed to gather only 43 votes against. Usually voting along with the coalition, deputy Oleg Burov did not participate in the voting this time.
Deputies from the "Latvia First" party addressed the Minister of Transport, demanding explanations and justifications for decisions related to the significant reduction of bus routes on regional routes. They expressed concern that these decisions could lead to serious consequences in the regions, especially in rural areas, where public transport plays an important role in ensuring the mobility of the population.
The request emphasized that the planned reduction of routes by 16%, or more than 11 million kilometers, could seriously affect passengers, especially socially vulnerable groups. The Ministry of Transport was accused by the deputies of inaction, ignoring recommendations from the Ministry of Finance and the Procurement Monitoring Bureau regarding possible changes to the contracts.
The deputies demanded clarifications on the procedures for terminating contracts, the conditions for new competitions, solutions to the driver shortage problem, as well as planned compensatory measures such as transport on demand. Additionally, the request raised the question of how these decisions align with the stated state goals in regional development and social integration.
The subsidized network of regional bus routes is planned for next year at 56.145 million kilometers, which is 11.06 million kilometers, or 16%, less compared to the forecast for 2025, as determined by the Public Transport Council.
It is expected that in each part of the route network, routes or parts of routes with low profitability and passenger numbers will be reduced.
