During the consideration of the Riga City Council budget for this year, coalition and opposition deputies exchanged mutual accusations and accusations of lying.
The opposition accused the coalition of neglecting the needs of the people. In particular, they criticized the council for lobbying the interests of 10,000 cyclists by building new infrastructure while simultaneously ignoring the interests of 100,000 residents whose yards remain broken and unkempt.
Opposition deputies found strange expenditures in the municipal budget, such as the purchase of coffee, rental of coffee machines, and repainting beach changing booths, for which €36,000 is planned to be spent (€3,000 per booth) among other expenses.
Those who reached the podium demanded to address safety issues in the area of the "Origo" shopping center and to provide free lunches for schoolchildren.
This year's Riga budget was dubbed a budget of the Brezhnev era of stagnation, which does not foresee any economic or social breakthrough either this year or in the coming years.
The capital's mayor was reminded that after the restoration of Latvia's independence, Riga lost more than 200,000 residents. At the same time, according to a deputy, the politicians of the ruling coalition are engaged in issues of Latvian identity, pursue migrants, and Vice Mayor Vilnis Kirsis threatens to fire 20 school directors if children do not speak Latvian well.
In turn, the deputies in power accused the opposition of distorting facts and interpreting them in their own interests, while praising specific budget items that, in their opinion, would improve life in Riga. In particular, a new €2 million road safety program was mentioned, which will allow for targeted improvements around schools.
The coalition also announced the construction of 146 bomb shelters that will allow residents to take cover in case of war. Furthermore, it was emphasized that €2 million will be allocated to increase police salaries, as well as other expenses.
In response, the opposition proposed to cut the third vice-mayor and deputy chairs of the council committees as part of the economy.
Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs bitterly admitted that during the council meeting he heard many manipulations suggesting that for the coalition, people are not a priority. He claims this is a "cold lie."
