Monday, April 26, was the last day that the Dundaga municipality could elect a chair and deputy chair, but it has not been done and according to the Minister, it is clear that it will not be done.
Dundaga county council has long formally been without leadership - in January, the chair of Dundaga county council, Aldis Felts and his deputy, Janis Maurins, left their posts. Party Mūsu cilvēkiem, who have five seats in the council out of nine, are not electing a new council president from their own ranks, but do not allow the opposition to do so either.
In response to the Ministry, the Dundaga Municipality Council stated that the election of a new City Council president was not beneficial for the municipality at the moment, because the decision-making is more rapid, without discussion in committees and commissions, but all decisions are taken in emergency meetings, without further discussion.
The Minister said that without the political leadership of the municipality, the interests of the people of Dundaga county are not defended in the adoption of important decisions.
For example, a representative of Dundaga municipality cannot participate in the joint committees with the newly formed Talsi municipality.
The council's actions quite clearly show systematic inappropriate behavior, the minister said, pointing out that this leaves consequences for the legitimate interests of residents of the specific administrative area. “The City Council is not able to fully carry out its statutory duties at this point,” said Plešs.
According to the Local Government Law, the City Council shall be dismissed by law, the draft of which shall be submitted by the Cabinet to the Saeima. One of the regulations of the Law determines that the Saeima may dismiss the local government council if it has not elected the Chairman, Deputy or Standing Committee of the City Council within two months of the first meeting or after the resignation of the relevant officials or institutions.
Following the dismissal of the City Council, the Saeima, on a proposal from the Cabinet, shall appoint a temporary administration in the relevant administrative territory, which shall be operational until the date of the meeting of the newly elected City Council.
