Election commission: Uzulnieks cannot be removed from ballot

Central Election Commission (CVK) chairman Māris Zviedris has explained why Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks (Greens and Farmers Union), who was caught driving under the influence, cannot be removed from the Saeima election candidate list.

No legal basis for removal

According to Zviedris, a candidate can only be struck from a list in exceptional cases, and this requires a corresponding court ruling. No such ruling currently exists. He added that even if a court decision were issued, only about 20 days remain until the election, leaving no time to print new ballots. As a result, nothing changes in how the commission is currently organizing the vote.

Party membership does not affect candidacy

Zviedris noted that Uzulnieks' planned expulsion from his party also has no bearing on his place on the candidate list, since non-party members can appear among Saeima candidates. Such individuals may join a party after the election or remain without party affiliation even after being elected to parliament.

Candidacies can only be withdrawn after final results

The CVK chairman further explained that candidates cannot withdraw their candidacy until the commission issues its final decision on election results. If the voting process proceeds without complications, preliminary results will be announced first, with the CVK potentially confirming final results around the tenth to twelfth day after the election. Only then will each candidate have the option to take up a parliamentary seat or decline it.

As previously reported, Uzulnieks, who leads the Greens and Farmers Union list in the Zemgale region for the upcoming Saeima election, was caught on September 12 driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.09 per mille. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has issued an order relieving him of his duties as welfare minister, with Agriculture Minister Uldis Augulis appointed to temporarily perform the welfare minister's duties for the remainder of this government's term.