Aboltina’s main duties as head of the department include managing and organizing the European Department’s work in accordance with the department’s regulations, participation in international, inter-institutional and EU workgroups, as well as regional and expert meetings on issues within the department’s area of competence to ensure the representation of Latvia’s position and interests, the ministry’s representatives explained.
As reported, Aboltina tendered her resignation from parliament on January 9. Kuldiga Region Council member and Kuldiga Outdoor Recreation Center's head Artis Gustovskis took Aboltina’s seat in Saeima on January 11.
Aboltina ran in the Kurzeme election district in the 12th Saeima elections and though not initially elected, a minor scandal was caused when another MP resigned seconds after being sworn in, in order to hand his seat to Aboltina.
In theory the candidate with the next largest number of votes in the election is eligible to replace her. However, Normunds Tropins, who was behind Aboltina on the election ticket, told BNS previously that he is not planning on working in parliament, meaning that Gustovskis, who is behind Tropins, is the next eligible candidate.
Unity's board on November 6 decided to expel Aboltina from the party.
Aboltina served as the Unity leader from 2011 to 2016, and the party saw a substantial drop in its ratings during her leadership.
