Political scientist: sacking Uzulnieks as minister may not hurt ZZS at the polls

News that Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) politician and now-former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks was caught driving with a blood alcohol level of more than three promille on Saturday has sparked wide public and social media reaction. Although party leadership swiftly moved to remove him from the ministerial post and expel him from the party, observers point out that these steps do not remove him from the election ballot.

Political commentator and writer Jurģis Liepnieks noted on the social network X that regardless of the party's decisions to sack and expel him, Uzulnieks remains the top candidate on ZZS's Zemgale list for the upcoming Saeima elections. Social media users responded with irony, with some questioning whether the scandal will matter much if the party fails to clear the electoral threshold, while others suggested the incident could even mobilize ZZS voters.

Political scientist's assessment

Political scientist Jānis Ikstens said Uzulnieks's drunk driving may not significantly affect ZZS's overall performance in the upcoming Saeima elections, noting that Uzulnieks was not the party's most prominent leader apart from holding the ministerial post. Ikstens recalled that Uzulnieks became welfare minister only after a government reshuffle in which Uldis Augulis (ZZS) was removed from that role. The political scientist suggested the bigger impact may be on Uzulnieks's own individual election result rather than the party as a whole. He added that clarity will only come in early October, when the elections will show whether voters are willing to renew Uzulnieks's mandate.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has issued an order relieving Uzulnieks of his duties as welfare minister. Agriculture Minister Augulis has been appointed to temporarily perform the welfare minister's duties for the remainder of the government's term.