Burovs was the only candidate discussed within GKR for the mayoral position.
GKR chairman Andris Ameriks told journalists that the GKR board unanimously supported Burovs’ nomination. GKR is proposing a candidate for Riga mayor again as it believes there were no reasons for expressing no confidence in previous mayor Dainis Turlais (GKR) who lasted less than a month.
“Ensuring the city council’s work is what matters today, and not political games, and Burovs is one of the most experienced councilors who can offer his own perspective on how to proceed,” said Ameriks, a former deputy mayor who recently won a seat in the European parliament alongside Nils Ušakovs, his former mayor.
Friday talks are scheduled with the city council’s groups to try to find a viable mayoral candidate.
Burovs, who was elected Riga vice mayor at the beginning of this year, became the city’s acting mayor after Nils Usakovs (Harmony) was suspended as Riga mayor in April. After Burovs’ fellow party member Dainis Turlais (GKR) was elected the new Riga mayor, Burovs planned to resign, but after a split in Harmony party he stayed on as vice mayor and was repeatedly appointed acting mayor after Turlais was deposed.
If the Riga City Council fails to elect a new mayor within two months’ time, Saeima can decide on dissolving the city council.
A majority of the city council’s opposition members have been calling for a snap municipal election, but the opposition group For Development of Latvia says the opposition might propose its own candidate for Riga mayor, but no concrete steps have been taken so far.
The city council deposed Turlais as Riga mayor on June 20 in a no confidence vote initiated by the opposition.
