The latest roll-call of shame for Latvia's Saeima deputies has been released and this time around 12 of the parliament's 100 members make the list blurring the borders between law maker and law breaker.
Between April and August of this year, 12 Saeima members were held administratively liable, mainly for traffic offences. The Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee reported this to the Saeima on Thursday, October 8th, based on information provided by the Interior Ministry
Deputies Mārcis Jencītis (Latvia First) and Edgars Putra (United List) were both warned for exceeding the permitted speed limit by 11 to 20 km/h, while deputies Artūrs Butāns (National Alliance), Iļja Ivanovs (Independent), and Uģis Mitrevics (National Alliance) were all clocked exceeding the speed limit in a built-up area or residential area.
Displaying even heavier right feet were Linda Liepiņa (Latvia First) and Kaspars Melnis (Greens and Farmers Union) who were fined for exceeding the permitted speed limit by 21 to 30 km/h. Jekaterina Drelinga (Independent) was fined for exceeding the speed limit in a built-up area or residential area.
Deputy Dāvis Melnalksnis (United List) is the would-be rally star of the outgoing Saeima, fined for exceeding the permitted speed limit by 31 to 40 km/h. Deputy Dmitry Kovalenko (Independent) was fined for not wearing a seat belt or a fastened safety helmet, as well as for carrying a passenger who was not wearing a seat belt or wearing a fastened safety helmet.
Away from the perils posed by reckless politicians on the national road network, MP Juris Jakovins (Greens and Farmers Union) was fined for failing to comply with the procedure for issuing and canceling a certificate of incapacity for work. The MP was also fined for violations of the provision of medical opinions or violations of healthcare.
In turn, MP Jana Simanovska (Progressives) was fined for failure to comply with accounting regulations and submitting an inadequate annual report and consolidated annual report.
That leaves the New Unity party as the only one that didn't have at least one deputy falling foul of the law during the reporting period, for which they probably deserve some sort of credit even if their recent election performance was nothing to write home about.
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