Pūce was elected to the 13th Saeima, and his parliamentary mandate has been renewed, given that he resigned from the position of Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development following a parking ticket scandal. Pūce, leader of the 'For Latvia's Development' party, was accused of still using a Rīga City Council parking permit even though these days he is no longer a Rīga council deputy.
Thus, Dace Bluķe, who joined the Saeima in January last year for a period of time while the deputies elected from the party's list of candidates fulfil the duties of ministers.
Opposition deputy Aldis Gobzems, following the decision, said on Twitter there would be a picket by the Saeima demanding Pūce to give up his mandate.