In LatviaYesterday, 17:404Video Mayor of Valka region Vents Armands Krauklis loses his position

At the extraordinary meeting of the city council, deputy Viesturs Zariņš (JV/LZS) emphasized that Krauklis has lost the trust of the opposition members of the city council, which includes the whole meaning of the application and the future activities of the city council.

At the council meeting, Zariņš reminded about Krauklis’ incorrect actions in setting up a gambling hall, lease rights for the building at Rūjienas street 31, business trip to Georgia and other violations at his discretion.

Krauklis evaluated what Zariņa said as half-truths, covered with a pile of lies.

The chairman of the council explained that thanks to the complaints written by the opposition, state institutions have conducted 33 inspections in the municipality in the last year and he has only received a reprimand from the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB).

Krauklis pointed out that some deputies have only one goal since the beginning of this term – to oust him from office. “There is no question of professionalism or work style, but rather the desire to manage for one’s own benefit,” the mayor commented on the intention of the opposition.

Krauklis informed that 584 residents have expressed their support for his work in a short time by signing a letter of support, and this is expressed by several dozen people at the picket near the council building.

He admitted that during these two years he had to face complaints, insults, espionage and even witchcraft. “My goal is to do good to people,” emphasized Krauklis.

Deputy Vilmārs Vesingi, who left the faction led by the mayor in March, recalled the permission given to SIA “LVBet” to open a gaming hall, bingo hall, totalizator or betting place at Ausekļa street 4, Valka.

Residents’ representative Līga Lāce-Jeruma, speaking about the principles of good governance, pointed out the communication problems of the opposition MPs, who are unable to justify their future work.

She also questioned the ability of the opposition MPs to take care of the residents of the county.

A similar opinion in the social network “twitter” Tālis Linkaits, the former Minister of Transport, also said.

I have not met a more passionate lobbyist for the interests of my region (in a positive sense) than@VentsAKrauklis. It is thanks to his perseverance and popularity that many projects have been implemented in Valka. But now the gassers show who can do it better pic.twitter.com/dnkJfhWcNa

— Talis Linkaits (@Talis_L) May 18, 2023

As reported, already on May 9, at the extraordinary meeting of the city council, in which 14 out of 15 deputies participated, eight opposition members proposed to include the issue of Krauklis’ release from office on the agenda, however, as a result of the discussions, the decision was postponed to the next extraordinary meeting of the city council.

As reported, a majority of eight members was gathered in the Valka county council to oust the long-time head of the county, Kraukli.

The initiator of the submission is deputy Viesturs Zariņš (JV/LZS), and it was signed by seven other municipal deputies besides him. Altogether, there are 15 deputies in the Valka County Council – eight were elected from the joint list of the Vidzeme Party and “Latvijas vytivėnai” (LA), five – from the joint list of “Jaunās vienotības” and the Latvian Farmers’ Union, and two – from the National Union.

As reported, in March of this year, three deputies of Valka region – Vilmārs Vesingi, Gita Avote and Jānis Anže, who were elected from the combined list of “Vidzeme party” and “Latvia development” left the faction led by the mayor Krauklis, but did not plan to support the opposition.

Vesingi previously explained that the personal reason for such a decision is that Krauklis is not really honest with his colleagues and is hiding various issues that the deputies should know.

Vesingi cited as an example the actions of the chairman of the Valka county council on August 16, 2021 at the meeting of the Finance Committee of the Valka county municipality, where Krauklis voted for the permission for SIA “LVBet” to open a gaming hall, bingo hall, totalizator or betting site at Ausekļa street 4, Valka. The mayor’s vote could affect the property interests of Kraukl as a member of SIA “Ziemeļlatvija”, which are related to the fulfillment of the terms of the real estate sale agreement.

Krauklis had not informed the deputies about this transaction, the public also opposed this plan, Vesingi explained.

The deputy admitted that such actions of the mayor do not inspire trust, either. Krauklis also makes other decisions, for which later the deputies will have to make decisions in the reverse order.

Vesingi, however, emphasized that he will not support the opposition’s efforts to oust Kraukli from office, because there is no leader who could take over the leadership of the municipality among the other possible options in the current convocation.

“In the current circumstances, you cannot risk the trials of another municipal manager, because no one else has the equivalent knowledge, analytical abilities and skills and contacts that the current municipal manager has,” the deputy admitted.

Krauklis, commenting on the decision of his colleagues, admitted that now it will be more difficult to work, more time will be needed for individual negotiations and consultations.

As reported, last summer, several members of the municipal council of Valka region, by signing a relevant application, requested the release of the chairman of the council.

At that time, in the application, council members claimed that Krauklis had committed several violations. He is said to have repeatedly violated the law “On prevention of conflict of interest in the activities of public officials” and continued to commit violations even after receiving the administrative penalties imposed by the Office for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption. The mayor is also said to have “multiple times single-handedly made decisions to deal with the property of the municipality, while being in a conflict of interest and causing loss to the municipality, hid from the members of the municipal council information about issues that are within the competence of the members of the council and which only all members of the council have the right to decide together, as well as concluded a personal nature of a private transaction, the outcome of which depended on the vote of the members of the municipal council”.

At the meeting of the Valka county council, considering the request of the opposition MPs for Krauklis to resign from the position of council chairman, only six out of 15 deputies voted for his resignation.

It has already been reported that 1,314 voters, or 53.13% of the total number of voters, voted for the combined list of the “Vidzeme party” and “Latvijas tīvājas” represented by Kraukli in the 2021 elections.