As reported numerous times, the Rēzekne municipality found itself in severe budgetary difficulties kast year, which raised questions about the performance of its basic functions, and led to public discussions about the need for the municipality to borrow EUR 5 million from the State Treasury to stabilize its budget. After the municipality failed to meet all requirements and deadlines for the loan, it was decided that the City Council should be dismissed.
Evaluating the draft law of dismissal on the Saeima's agenda, Edvīns Danovskis, an expert at the Saeima's Legal Bureau, stressed that the legal framework for dissolving a municipality should be sufficient, and at the moment, it is not.
The representative of the Saeima's Legal Office concluded that if the Rēzekne City Council were dismissed and its representatives applied to the Constitutional Court, there would be a high risk of the state losing the case.
Dāvids Valters, Legal Adviser of the Latvian Association of Local Governments, also agreed with these conclusions of the representative of the Saeima Legal Office.
The draft law will have to be examined and voted on in the plenary session of the Saeima in any case. From the discussions heard on Wednesday and the arguments outlined by the legal office, it is likely that the majority of the Saeima could reject the bill in next week's vote.
