After Uzulnieks case, initiative proposes freezing ministers' severance pay during criminal proceedings

A public initiative platform, Manabalss.lv, has launched a signature drive proposing a new procedure for severance payments to Cabinet members and parliamentary secretaries in cases where they lose office due to a suspected criminal offense. The initiative's author is Maksims Neroba.

Current rules

Under existing law, a Cabinet member or parliamentary secretary is entitled to one month's salary as severance after leaving office, except when they resign on their own initiative. However, the law does not specifically address situations where an official loses their post not by choice, but in connection with a suspected crime.

What the initiative proposes

Neroba proposes that when loss of office is directly linked to a suspected crime under active criminal investigation, severance payment be postponed until a final ruling in that case. If the person is acquitted or the proceedings are terminated on exonerating grounds, the full severance would be paid. If a court or prosecutor finds the person guilty, or if proceedings are terminated on non-exonerating grounds, no severance would be paid at all. The initiative does not apply to Saeima members' benefits, which are governed by separate rules.

The author argues this approach would preserve the presumption of innocence, since opening a criminal case alone would not automatically strip the right to severance, while also preventing payment before the case's outcome is known.

The Uzulnieks case

The initiative follows the case of former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks, who was caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.09 per mille on September 12. A criminal case was opened over the incident, and his political party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, recalled him from the ministerial post. Despite this, he currently retains the right to receive severance compensation.