Former director of the State Chancellery Jānis Citskovskis will be the prime ministerial candidate of the New Conservative Party (JKP) in the 15th Saeima elections.
Added at 16:29:
Citskovskis stated at the press conference organized by the party on Wednesday that he decided to join the JKP because they share common values - openness, responsibility for one’s decisions and the desire to work for the benefit of society. He expressed that he sees a strong team, young as well as experienced politicians.
He noted that he has worked in the administration for many years and has seen both its strengths and problems, citing excessive bureaucracy, slow decision-making, loss of responsibility and insufficient focus on results as examples.
Citskovskis said that he had experienced situations when the highest officials of the country were not able to act as statesmen in critical moments. This made him ask the question whether we are always able to make bold decisions in the interests of the country, which is why he decided to become a politician. His motivation is not “to chase positions, but to contribute to the growth of Latvia”.
The JKP Prime Minister candidate stated that he cannot accept the situation when decisions are delayed, not made, responsibility is shifted from one institution to another. A sense of justice is equally important to him. According to Citskovskis, it is too often seen that a simple worker takes responsibility for his mistake, but high officials are not responsible for their decisions. He expressed that the public should be convinced that the law enforcement institutions act professionally, independently and equally towards everyone.
Tsitskovskis pointed out that the JKP will talk about corruption, illegalities, waste, regardless of where they take place and who is involved in them.
The JKP prime ministerial candidate stated that the party’s program is based on national security, economic growth, efficient state administration, population welfare and strong regions. Citskovskis stated that it is especially important for him that the state administration is more professional and results-oriented.
He expressed his belief that the future of Latvia is not possible without strong regions. He also stated that the absolute priority is security, it is necessary to strengthen defense capabilities, cooperation with allies, develop our own military industry, and the country’s resilience.
Likewise, Citskovskis marked the well-being of the population as one of his priorities, so that people both want to build families and raise children. He also mentioned health care and education as priorities for the LETA agency.
At the party’s press conference, JKP board chairman Sigords Stradiņš informed that the party’s candidate for the post of Minister of the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM) will be the chairman of the Līvāni County Council, Dāvids Rubens (JKP). Rubens stated that he does not plan to run in the 15th Saeima elections, but if the political culture allows it, he would be ready to take on the position of minister.
JKP previously stated that their prime ministerial candidate is “one of the most well-known fighters for justice, fairness and responsible state governance”. As stated in the party, he has not been associated with any political force until now, and his professional activity and public position to date have contributed to wide recognition and trust in society.
JKP believes that a new approach is needed in Latvian politics, based on competence, responsibility and readiness to make complex decisions in the interests of the country. Therefore, the party in the upcoming the election promises to offer a team that combines professional experience, clear values and determination to achieve real change, informed JKP.
It has already been announced that Tsitskovskis was State Chancellery director from 2017 to July 2024. In connection with the flight scandal of former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņas (JV), he was demoted in early July 2024. Protesting against this, Citskovskis decided to leave his job at the State Chancellery.
According to the information provided by the prosecutor’s office, Citskovskis is accused of failing to fulfill the duties of a public official, which caused serious consequences. There was originally another person entitled to a defense in the case, but that person’s status was changed and is now a witness.
According to the information provided by the prosecutor’s office, the pre-trial investigation also assessed the possible responsibility of the former Prime Minister, several officials and employees of the State Council and its structural unit – the Office of the Prime Minister, but as a result it was concluded that it was the Director of the State Council, as the head of the institution, who was responsible for the legality and usefulness of the use of state budget funds in the purchase of services related to the Prime Minister’s foreign missions.
As a result of the person’s inaction, losses in the amount of 89,382 euros were caused to Latvia, which according to the law is considered a criminal offense with serious consequences, the indictment states.
In the course of the pre-trial criminal proceedings, it was concluded that during the Prime Minister’s four foreign business trips, VK illegally ordered and paid for five special contract flights, despite the opportunity to purchase regular commercial flight tickets for members of the Prime Minister’s delegation in time.
We already wrote that so far only a few parties have officially named their candidates for the position of Prime Minister.
The “Progressives” have nominated their party co-chairman and the leader of the Saeima faction as a candidate for the position of prime minister Andri Shuvajev.
The current head of the government is nominated as the candidate for the post of Prime Minister of the “Joint List”. Andris Kulbergs.
About the prime ministerial candidate of the “National Union”, the party in the 15th Saeima elections Ilzi Indriksonswho currently holds the position of Minister of Education and Science.
“Latvia first” leader Ainars Shlesser has already publicly stated that he is ready to assume the position of prime minister.
