43 MPs voted in favour of the motion of no confidence in Briškens, 48 against and none abstained. Briškens therefore retained his post.
The resignation of Transport Minister Briškens has been requested for the third time in one year that the government led by Evika Siliņa (New Unity) has been in place.
The motion of no confidence in the Transport Minister was tabled by the National Alliance MPs, who consider that Briškens is incapable of managing the sector, making decisions and explaining them properly.
Opposition MPs were loud in their criticism, while coalition was rather quiet.
MP Edvards Smiltēns (United List) said in the debate that everything Briškens has been attached to this year has been marked by chaos and increasing problems, and gave examples: "Latvian Postal Service, Vivi trains that do not run, airBaltic" and "Rail Baltica", maybe the Minister is just unlucky, bad karma, so to speak, but maybe it is just a complete inability to deal with big issues, while the small issues [are] of exaggerated importance [..]."
The criticism of the Transport Minister was continued by MP Ainārs Šlesers (Latvia First), who said: "For ten years you have been [in] Rail Baltica, airBaltic and now you come [and announce] that you are the first to announce that Rail Baltica will be four times more expensive. But who worked for Rail Baltica for 10 years in all sorts of positions? [..]The basic fact is that you do not say clearly how you are going to finance Rail Baltica, because there is no money this year or next year."
From the coalition, only the minister's party member Andris Šuvajevs (Progressives) took the podium to defend Briškens. He pointed out that the Minister was not afraid to speak out, and listed a number of works done under his leadership to improve road safety in Latvia.
"The Progressives faction supports its Minister, we trust him," Šuvajevs affirmed. "Positive changes are needed in traffic policy and we are ready to continue."
