Promulgation of the law was confirmed by the presidential chancellery and comes into force February 25, after which a temporary administration will take over municipal functions until elections are held, most probably on April 25, though the date has yet to be confirmed by the Central Electoral Commission (CVK).
The Riga City Council dissolution law was passed by the Saeima on 13 February, however under thr terms of the Latvian constitution, it was not possible for the president to promulgate it until February 24 - which he has promptly done.
The Saeima legally dismissed Riga City Council because of its inability to make decisions, following three successive council meetings at which a quorum was not obtained. As previously reported by LSM, a large part of the council itself aided this state of affairs by calling meetings with the intention that they should not be quorate.
As well as the justification for the dismissal of the City Council, it is mentioned in the Law that the Riga Municipality has not fulfilled the autonomous functions of a municipality established in the Waste Management Law.
The Saeima vote was carried by 62 votes to 22, with Harmony deputies and a few independents voting against.
