SEPLP condemns Minister Valainis' plan to demand explanation from LSM for not attending conference

The Public Electronic Mass Media Council (SEPLP) has condemned Economy Minister Viktors Valainis (Union of Greens and Farmers) for his plans to ask the Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs (LSM) Latgale studio to explain why it did not attend a construction industry conference organized by the Ministry of Economics in Krāslava.

SEPLP chair Sanita Upleja-Jegermane stated that no minister has the right to dictate which events journalists should cover, emphasizing that the media and its journalists make their own editorial decisions.

Earlier, Valainis said the event was significant enough to warrant asking why LSM did not attend, noting that many local government leaders had called for events to be moved from Rīga to Latgale. He said that when the ministry and private sector responded, the public broadcaster, which has a special unit in Latgale, showed no interest.

The minister said the ministry would ask the questions, not him personally, and if LSM had more important events, he might apologize but still wanted to know what they were. He denied that this threatens editorial independence, framing it as a dialogue about priorities.

Valainis added that since LSM is funded by taxpayers, such questions are normal, and urged against politicizing the issue.

The conference took place on Wednesday at the Krāslava Culture House, aiming at discussing the investment environment and economic development.