Zivtiņš: Politicians' Accountability Rests With Voters and the Law, Not Workplace-Style Penalties

The accountability of Saeima deputies differs from that in an ordinary workplace, according to Edmunds Zivtiņš ("Latvija pirmajā vietā"), who was elected to the 15th Saeima. He spoke on the TV24 election results special, where the discussion centred on whether politicians could be penalised for poor performance through dismissal or pay cuts.

Voters assess every four years

Zivtiņš said politics cannot be equated with everyday tasks, such as a badly mown lawn. In his view, voters get the chance to evaluate politicians' work at elections held once every four years. If people dislike how the Saeima works or a particular policy, they punish the parties. He cited the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) as an example of a party voters had punished, and said New Unity had also been penalised for poor work.

Constitutional order

He reminded viewers that Latvia is a parliamentary state governed by the Rules of Procedure and the Constitution, which set the framework for a constitutionally secure country. Accountability, he stressed, exists before all voters, and the election was an opportunity for each of them to express an opinion on the work done.

Responsibility for violations

The politician noted that other forms of liability already exist for specific violations. He mentioned a case in which someone lied about their education: such a person is removed and a criminal case is opened. He also referred to a driver caught drunk at the wheel, saying that criminal liability applies and an elected deputy would, after some time, receive a criminal sentence and lose their Saeima seat. For this reason, Zivtiņš concluded, accountability in politics is sufficient.