MP of the Saeima: "I am ashamed in front of my Lithuanian and Estonian colleagues."
Today, the Saeima conceptually, that is, in the first reading, approved the bill for the implementation of Rail Baltica. Surprisingly, but true: the project has been underway for more than 10 years, and there has still been no law that defines the ministries and agencies responsible for its implementation, as well as the order of project execution. Now, finally, the Ministry of Transport has prepared a document that is being considered in the Saeima. Opposition deputies want the circle of responsible ministries to be expanded. During the discussion of the bill at the plenary session today, opposition parliamentarians tore the project of the century to shreds.
"I am ashamed in front of my Estonian and Lithuanian colleagues because I would like to be proud of Latvia. But everything is different. Because there, they somehow understand that a priority state project should be under the supervision of the Prime Minister, because both the Prime Minister and the President coordinate this project and take responsibility for it.
You have a deadline set for 2030. What kind of incantations do you have to perform there to imagine that this project would be completed by 2030 and that one could physically travel on this railway! You don’t need a higher education in engineering to understand that it is impossible to meet this deadline. Everyone involved in this project says so. If we set such unrealistic goals, people do not believe in the project, and there is no clarity, and we make wrong decisions both here in the Saeima and in the government, so there is a request — realistic deadlines and realistic questions about funding. And the public should know how this gap, which has already been identified at five billion by 2029, is going to be financed," noted MP Andris Kulbergs (United List).
He was echoed by Ramona Petraviča from "Latvia First": "Today I stand here to congratulate on our greatest national triumph — 'Rail Baltica', or rather, that part of it that we are… which 'Progressive Unity' managed to build with pride for its cost of tens of millions of euros on the Daugava. Yes, that’s right, one pile, neither a bridge nor rails, but a mixture of concrete and steel, as a demonstration of how we 'effectively' know how to use European money. Congratulations. The pile now stands as a monument to modern freedom. It is popularly called 'Golden Pile', 'Brishkens' Pile'. And from the people, there have already been various proposals on how to economically utilize this structure. One of the options is to open a café, name it 'Evika Pie', and then tourists could be attracted to come and see these ingenious people who built this pile for tens of millions.
"My call to you: if we truly consider Latvia part of Europe, part of the European transport networks, corridors, support, help this practical phase of construction. Let’s leave this rhetoric, I will respect, let’s talk. Shoot, criticize me, call me out, I will respond. But my stance is to build, to show progress," tried to counter the blow Minister of Transport Aitis Švinka (Progressives).
