Saeima rejects no-confidence motion against interior minister

Latvia’s parliament on Thursday rejected an opposition-backed motion to dismiss Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava, LSM reported. The motion was linked to the closure of the Pāternieki border crossing with Belarus in late July.

Twenty-five MPs voted in favour of Dombrava’s dismissal, while 64 voted against it. The motion was supported by the Latvia First party, the Progressives and several independent MPs.

The motion was the first dismissal request against a minister in Andris Kulbergs’ government. After the vote, parliament was also due to consider a Latvia First motion of no confidence in Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis.

Pāternieki is the only road border crossing between Latvia and Belarus. Dombrava announced its closure on July 31. The State Border Guard said that disruptions to information systems had made border checks impossible. The crossing was closed for several days and resumed operations on August 4.

Latvia First and several independent MPs said the closure was a political act intended to gain political benefits and raise the National Alliance’s ratings. They criticised the timing of the announcement, saying it was made on a Friday evening while several freight carriers were waiting to cross the border.

The party accused Dombrava of showing disrespect towards businesses and state interests by disrupting logistics chains. It also said that the public and industry had not received detailed information about the technical problem, its possible causes, the expected repair time or alternative arrangements for international freight flows.

The Progressives also supported the dismissal motion. Independent MP Amils Saļimovs joined the Latvia First appeal from the parliamentary rostrum.