Prime Minister Andris Skele fired Economics Minister Vladimirs Makarovs on April 5 after bitter disputes over privatization.
Published:
17 April 2000 y., Monday
The vast majority of state owned companies in Latvia were privatized in the years immediately after Latvia regained independence from Moscow in 1991.
But the issue of privatizing several giant state companies, like the Latvian Shipping Company and state energy utility Latvenergo, has been highly contentious.
Skele, of the centrist People's Party, and Makarovs, of the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom, clashed over setting sale prices. Makarovs said prices for state firms should be set high, while Skele said high prices would scare off potential buyers.
The sacking of the minister caused tensions within the coalition.
The government, which also includes the centrist Latvia's Way, currently controls 62 out of 100 seats in the Saeima parliament. Should Fatherland and Freedom quit the coalition, the government would have just 45 seats.
Fatherland and Freedom announced it would remain in the government for now, but demanded a clearer explanation from Skele about why he sacked Makarovs.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
In European sustainable energy week 2010, new EU energy commissioner presents strategy to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuel.
more »
The EBRD is launching a Project Complaint Mechanism, which is expected to enhance the accountability and transparency of the Bank’s operations.
more »
The EBRD is boosting the availability of local currency financing in Armenia with a synthetic loan in Armenian Drams (AMD) worth $4 million to FINCA UCO CJSC for on-lending to local micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
more »
This year is the UN year of biodiversity and it brings endangered species into the spotlight.
more »
The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$65 million project to support the recovery of Haiti’s critical infrastructure as well as the reestablishment of basic State functions following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12, 2010.
more »
Haiti’s arduous reconstruction and recovery process jolted forward today following fresh commitments to help the Caribbean nation rebuild in the wake of its devastating January 12 earthquake.
more »
A mission from the African Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Uganda during March 4-17, 2010, to conduct the seventh and final review under Uganda’s Policy Support Instrument (PSI) and reach understandings on a policy framework for a new three-year PSI to cover the period 2010 to 2013.
more »
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), as the first EU institution, rose to the challenge of providing a comprehensive vision for the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), in advance of the European Commission's papers on the matter, due to be issued later this year and in 2011.
more »
The outlook for primary energy supplies, heat, and electricity is questionable for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, despite Russia and Central Asia’s current role as a major energy supplier to both Eastern and Western Europe.
more »
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a 36-month, SDR 513.9 million (about US$790 million) Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for El Salvador to help the country mitigate the adverse effects of the global crisis.
more »