Election commission explains why Uzulnieks stays on ballot despite 3.09 per mille incident
Latvia's Central Election Commission says former welfare minister Reinis Uzulnieks, caught driving heavily intoxicated, cannot be removed from the Saeima election candidate list because that requires a court ruling, which does not exist, and there is no time left to reprint ballots.
The chairman of Latvia's Central Election Commission (CVK), Māris Zviedris, told the LETA news agency why politician Reinis Uzulnieks of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) will remain on the Saeima election candidate list despite a recent incident in which he was caught driving while heavily intoxicated.
Removal requires a court ruling
Zviedris explained that a candidate can only be removed from the list in specific cases, and doing so requires a court decision. No such ruling currently exists. Even if a court were to issue one, only about 20 days remain until the election, making it impossible to produce new ballots at this stage. As a result, nothing changes in the CVK's election preparations for now.
Zviedris also noted that Uzulnieks' planned expulsion from the party has no bearing on his position on the candidate list, since non-partisan individuals are allowed to run as candidates — they may join a party after the election or remain non-partisan even after being elected to parliament.
Candidates cannot withdraw before final results are confirmed
The CVK chairman further explained that candidates for parliament cannot withdraw their candidacy until the commission issues its final decision on the election results. If the process runs smoothly, preliminary results will be announced first, with the CVK expected to confirm final results roughly ten-some days later. Only after that will each elected candidate have the option to take up the seat or decline it.
Background
Uzulnieks, who is heading the ZZS candidate list in the Zemgale region for the upcoming Saeima election, was caught on Saturday, September 12, driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.09 per mille. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) has issued an order relieving Uzulnieks of his duties as welfare minister. Agriculture Minister Uldis Augulis (ZZS) has been appointed acting welfare minister for the remainder of this government's term.
