The Latvian government has asked the State Chancellery to conduct a comprehensive analysis of state funding for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), LETA reports. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs alleged that NGOs were wasting taxpayer money, LSM reported. He suggested that state funding for NGOs created a conflict of interest, insisting that NGOs should not depend on state funding. Kulbergs argued that it was in the interests of the government and society to determine which NGOs are efficient and which are not. However, his assertions appear to be based at least partly on misleading information about funding for the Latvian Civic Alliance, which coordinates cooperation to involve civil society in public decision-making.
Earlier, Interior Minister Janis Dombrava and Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis terminated cooperation agreements with NGOs focused on helping refugees and women, alleging irregularities, LSM reported. Also, populist opposition leaders Ainars Slesers of Latvia First (LPV) and Alvis Hermanis of We Change the Rules (MMN) joined in the wave of public criticism of state funding for NGOs. Meanwhile, President Edgars Rinkevics called for “respectful dialogue rather than one-sided monologue” when discussing financing for NGOs, LETA reported. Speaking after a meeting with Kulbergs, Rinkevics stressed that NGOs played a significant and positive role in the development of Latvia as a democratic state.