A major rotation is expected in the parliament 5 months before the end of its term.
As is known, tomorrow the new government of Kulbergs will start working - the Saeima meeting to approve it will begin at 13:30. None of the deputies who have become ministers intend to "retain" their deputy mandate. This means that instead of the deputies who have resigned their powers to work as ministers, the next candidates on the list should come - they will receive the so-called "soft" mandate. Contrary to stereotypes, not all potential deputies... are eager to be so on a temporary basis. Especially when it comes to a very short period - until the end of October this year. After all, on November 3, the Saeima of the new convocation will start working. Even now, it is expected that several candidates for deputies will refuse the mandate, and then their place will be offered to the next servants of the people.
Thus, instead of the newly appointed Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis, the deputy mandate is due to Girts Lapins from the National Alliance. However, Lapins was elected to the Riga City Council last year and heads the committee of the capital municipality. It is not a fact that he will agree to leave this job to sit in the Saeima for only 2.5 months, especially since after June 19, the parliament goes on summer vacation until the beginning of September. Moreover, the salary of the chairman of the Riga City Council committee is only slightly less than that of an ordinary Saeima deputy. Interestingly, if Lapins refuses the mandate of a temporary Saeima deputy, then the next in line is Edvarts Ratnieks, who is the vice-mayor of Riga and will certainly not leave his current position. The next candidate, Roberts Kipurs, is likely to agree to be a deputy, as he works as a teacher, and Saeima deputies are allowed to engage in teaching, academic, and medical practice. Thus, Kipurs will not need to leave his profession, and after the end of this parliament's term, if Kipurs is not elected to the 15th Saeima, he will receive compensation of three monthly salaries.
As for the United List faction, it is also expected to undergo significant changes, as Kulbergs, Kuchinskis, Smilten, and Tavares will resign their mandates. Two candidates for deputies - Ieva Brante and Limbaži City Council deputy Davis Melnalksnis have already agreed to become temporary deputies, while two other candidates - Talsi City Council deputy Inga Priede and Liepāja City Council deputy Raivis Kalejs are still considering whether to exchange their local government deputy mandate for a Saeima deputy mandate. Inga Priede, working three jobs, earned "net" 4,500 euros a month last year. What sense does it make for her to switch to the Saeima? After all, she will lose her additional job and ultimately even lose income. If Priede refuses, the mandate may go to agronomist Janis Bergmanis.
Since the secretary of the Saeima presidium Edvards Smilten is leaving for the government, the deputies will also have to make changes in the Saeima presidium. Instead of Smilten, deputy Linda Matisone will be proposed as secretary of the presidium.
