EU – Baltic States, Latvia

Greens/Farmers lawmaker Janis Lejins said that despite the criminal charges brought against the Jurmala mayor, the faction still believes that Truksnis is the best mayor Jurmala has had. “Different charges have been pressed against him already since 2016, still, in 2017 residents elected him,” said Lejins, adding that his guilt has not been proved yet.

Jurmala opposition lawmakers on December 7 called for another vote on confidence in Truksnis as the mayor. The previous time a no confidence vote on Truksnis was held was on October 8. Jurmala municipality's opposition proposed a motion of no confidence against Truksnis on October 2, shortly after the media reported that the State Police had fined him for the possession of narcotics.

The coalition at the Jurmala city council is formed by the Union of Greens and Farmers and Harmony. The opposition parties are the National Alliance and For You, For Jurmala.

As reported, the Prosecutor General’s Office has brought criminal charges against Jurmala Mayor Gatis Truksnis for illegal financing of the Union of Greens and Farmers on a large scale, and also for forging of documents and disposal of forged documents.

TV3's investigative news program Neka Personiga said at the end of September that the State Police had fined Truksnis for the possession of narcotics. The Corruption Prevention Bureau found a needle with traces of cocaine and Truksnis' DNA on out while carrying out a search of possible illegal party financing involving the Union of Greens and Farmers and the For Latvia from the Heart parties.

A DNS analysis confirms that Truksnis' DNA was on the needle and police fined him EUR 100 for possession of narcotics.