Latvia: Transport Minister survives third no confidence vote

The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has rejected a motion of no confidence submitted by the opposition National Alliance against Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens, LSM reports. Altogether 48 MPs voted against the motion, 43 in favour, and none abstained. The opposition’s criticism was related to problems at state-owned postal company Latvijas Pasts, national air carrier airBaltic, passenger train operator Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), and the Rail Baltica railway project. This was the third time that Briskens has faced a call to resign in parliament. Meanwhile, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Rail Baltica project criticised the Ministry of Finance for ignoring expert warnings about the project’s surging costs and other potential risks, LSM reported. However, Baiba Bane, state secretary at the Ministry of Finance, directed the criticism to the Minister of Transport instead.