Jurmala Council Meeting Sparks Legality Debate

Opposition Cites Proportionality Breach Over Committee Representation

An emergency Jurmala City Council session on August 6 has intensified a dispute over the municipality’s adherence to national regulations, focusing on committee appointments.

National Union Alleges Unfair Committee Distribution

Members of the National Union (NA) initiated the extraordinary meeting, highlighting concerns that committee representation within the city council is skewed. The Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (MEPRD) acknowledged the NA’s complaint, confirming an investigation into allegations that the Latvian Green Party holds an advantage, leaving the NA unrepresented in crucial committees.

The NA has formally communicated to the City Council that the current arrangement violates the Law on Local Governments by disregarding the principle of proportionality. They are demanding an immediate correction to ensure equitable representation for all deputies.

“Jurmala City Council is not out of law. We cannot allow the City Council’s agenda to be determined by politically compromise in disregarding the rights of opposition and bypassing national law. It is our duty to defend the public interest, not to allow some parties to seize power by ignoring the proportionality and the rule of law. That is why we also approached MEPRD and demanded this extraordinary council meeting – for the municipality to return to the law.”

—Andris Chuda, Member of Jurmala City Council (NA)

Deputy Chairman Powers Reinstatement on Agenda

The meeting will also consider amendments to the Jurmala National Municipality’s bylaws. The NA aims to restore the deputy chairman’s responsibilities concerning civil protection and access to state secrets. These powers were reportedly removed through recent bylaw changes, a move the MEPRD has flagged as non-compliant with local government law.

The NA asserts that rectifying these issues is vital for bolstering municipal legality, mitigating potential legal challenges, and satisfying state supervisory bodies.

In Latvia, adherence to proportionality in local governance is a key tenet, designed to prevent the marginalization of minority political groups and ensure balanced decision-making. For example, in 2023, the Saeima (Parliament) debated amendments to strengthen local government oversight, underscoring the national importance of these principles (LSM.lv 2023).