This is our last pass in your direction. After this - you are on your own!
So, as is known, today Aitis Švinka ('Progressives') again - albeit barely - managed to hold on to the position of Minister of Transport. Just last night and this morning, before the start of the plenary session, there were persistent rumors that the 'green farmers' might support the proposal from the opposition faction 'Latvia First' and vote for the dismissal of the head of the Ministry of Transport. But no sensational events occurred - only three deputies from the Union of Greens and Farmers voted for Švinka's removal - Uldis Augulis, Jānis Vucāns, and Gundars Daudze. The voting results: 48 for dismissal, 50 against, and 1 abstained. So why did the 'green farmers', despite the harsh criticism of Švinka from the podium of the Saeima, nevertheless 'spare' him?
Let’s outline three main reasons. The first - the 'green farmers' are not ready to collapse the government in the remaining six months before the elections: it is obvious that if Švinka were removed, the 'Progressives' would raise the question, for example, of dismissing the Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze from the ZZS, whom the 'Progressives' accuse of illegally lobbying for the interests of wood processors. Thus, the 'green farmers' did not want to open the 'Pandora's box'.
Secondly, by supporting Švinka's dismissal, the 'green farmers' would effectively play into the hands of the opposition and primarily their competitors from Šlesers' party. Why would they do that just six months before the elections?
And the third reason - it is even beneficial for the 'green farmers' that Švinka remains in the position of Minister of Transport and serves as a constant weak link in the government, which they can always point to, and any criticism from the 'Progressives' could be countered by saying that they should first deal with their 'wonderful' minister. Moreover, there are not many eager candidates to take Švinka's chair, as the transport sector under current conditions is simply politically suicidal.
Another important aspect. The Ministry of Economics, led by the 'green farmers', wants to demonstrate its ability to respond to crises and achieve a reduction in the excise tax on diesel fuel, and this cannot be done without the support of coalition partners.
