Home » News » Kandava follows Varakļāni and decides to challenge the county reform in the Constitutional Court

Kandava follows Varakļāni and decides to challenge the county reform in the Constitutional Court

At the June 30 meeting of the Kandava County Council, the deputies decided to apply to the Constitutional Court. Līga Šupstika of Kandava region informed the portal “Delfi” before the consultations with the sworn law firm on constitutional law issues to understand how meaningful it is to achieve the preservation of Kandava region, as well as discussed opinions with other local governments that feel disappointed after the promulgation of the new Administrative Territorial Law. Head of the Public Relations Department of the City Council.

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“Delfi” has already reported that Varakļāni County Council, dissatisfied with the administrative-territorial reform law, in which, notwithstanding the clearly expressed opinion of residents and local government, the region was included in Rēzekne and not Madona region, on June 25 made a conceptual decision to challenge the law in the Constitutional Court. As far as we know, Varaklani is the first municipality to make such a decision, and now it is followed by Kandava City Council.

“After the vote of the Saeima, President Egils Levits also promulgated the Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements, which envisages the establishment of 42 local governments instead of 119 local governments in Latvia from 2021. However, the President emphasizes that the administrative territories and borders are not set in stone forever. and if a local government or local community believes that its arguments have not been properly heard and taken into account politically, they have the opportunity to apply to the Constitutional Court and obtain their assessment through legal means. The President acknowledges that the process of drafting the law and advancing reform is not and cannot be considered an example of a good reform process, “Kandava City Council said in a press release.

On June 16, the Chairman of the Kandava County Council, Inga Priede, together with 46 other Latvian local government leaders from various political parties, addressed the President with a joint letter, calling not to promulgate this law.

“We also addressed the President as representatives of Kandava region with a request to meet in person, as well as letters to the President, the Saeima, the Cabinet of Ministers, other influential persons and non-governmental organizations of Kandava region. The President pointed out at the press conference that the law could be reviewed and amended. “Kandava and Varakļāni districts. Receiving the call of the President, both Kandava district council, other local governments and a part of the Saeima deputies will apply to the Constitutional Court,” the press release said.

It has already been reported that on June 22, President Egils Levits announced the Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements in an additional issue of the official publication “Latvijas Vēstnesis”.

However, the President of the State, devoting critical words to the process of preparation of the draft law on regional reform, has decided to announce the draft law as a state-responsible step. The President announced this on Friday, June 19, at a press conference specially convened at Riga Castle on the Administrative Territorial Reform Law “Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements” adopted by the Saeima on June 10.

The President acknowledged that the Saeima has significantly improved the draft law submitted by the government, however, both the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers must learn from the mistakes of preparing this reform by implementing further and other reforms. At the press conference, the President also acknowledged that the Saeima could address the issue of Varakļāni, as well as Kandava and some other dissatisfied counties, by amending the law on county reform.

It has already been reported that on June 16, 46 local governments in a jointly signed letter addressed the President not to promulgate the draft local government reform law, stating that the adopted law is of poor quality, insufficiently reasoned and the law envisages undemocratic administrative-territorial reform.

On 15 June, the councils of Ikšķile district and Varakļāni district, dissatisfied with the decision of the Saeima, addressed a request to the President not to promulgate the Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements adopted by the Saeima on 10 June.

“Delfi” has already reported that on June 10, the Saeima adopted the county reform or the Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements. If the President promulgates this law, then in a year’s time 42 local governments will remain in Latvia instead of the existing 119. The new municipality will start operating on July 1, 2021.

58 deputies voted in favor of the adoption of the law in the final reading, 12 were against and 20 abstained. The ruling coalition factions voted for, ZZS voted against, “Sadarba” abstained.

Simultaneously with the adoption of the law, promises to challenge the law in the Constitutional Court have been made from representatives of the opposition and counties who are not satisfied with the content and course of the reform.

The Saeima has decided that after the reform, there will be seven state municipalities in Latvia – Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Liepāja, Rēzekne, Rīga, Ventspils, as well as 35 counties – Aizkraukle county, Alūksne county, Ādaži county, Augšdaugava county, Balvu county, Bauska county, Cesis county, Dienvidkurzeme county, Dobele county, Gulbene county, Jelgava county, Jekabpils county, Kraslava county, Kuldiga county, Kekava county, Limbazu county, Livanu county, Ludzas county, Madonas county, Mārupes county, Mārupes county , Rezekne county, Ropazu county, Salaspils county, Saldus county, Saulkrasti county, Sigulda county, Smiltene county, Talsu county, Tukuma county, Valka county, Valmiera county, Ventspils county.

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