Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs dismissed Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks on Sunday, Sept. 13, after police detained the 40-year-old politician on suspicion of drunk driving in Ropazi municipality near Riga, according to the Latvian news agency LETA and official reports. Two separate alcohol tests administered by law enforcement recorded readings of 3.09 and nearly 3.5 per mille—figures far exceeding Latvia’s legal driving limit of 0.5 per mille for most motorists.
Immediate Political Fallout and Party Expulsion
The political response to the detention was swift. Following the Saturday night incident, the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) governing coalition party held an emergency meeting on Sunday. During the session, party leadership withdrew its political support for Uzulnieks as welfare minister and formally expelled him from the Latvian Farmers’ Union, a constituent party of ZZS.
Prime Minister Kulbergs promptly signed an order removing Uzulnieks from office. To maintain government operations, Kulbergs appointed Agriculture Minister Uldis Augulis to serve concurrently as the acting welfare minister, according to official government announcements.
Did You Know? Reinis Uzulnieks held the position of top ZZS candidate in the Zemgale constituency ahead of Latvia’s upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for Oct. 3.
Legal Consequences and Election Status
Criminal proceedings have been launched against Uzulnieks following his detention by police. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics strongly condemned the actions of the public official, stating that drunk driving by government ministers is entirely unacceptable and must face legal punishment. “No one is above the law,” President Rinkevics said.
Despite his expulsion from the Greens and Farmers Union, Uzulnieks will remain on the ballot for the upcoming Oct. 3 parliamentary election. Latvia’s Central Election Commission confirmed that candidate lists had already been formally submitted prior to the incident, preventing his removal from the printed ballot. In response, ZZS announced plans to clear campaign materials featuring Uzulnieks from public view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks dismissed?
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs dismissed Uzulnieks after police detained him on suspicion of drunk driving following a traffic stop in Ropazi municipality near Riga.
What were the results of the alcohol tests administered by police?
According to the Latvian news agency LETA, two separate breath or blood tests showed readings of 3.09 and nearly 3.5 per mille. This is significantly higher than Latvia’s legal driving limit of 0.5 per mille for most motorists.
Will Uzulnieks still appear on the ballot for the October 3 parliamentary election?
Yes. Latvia’s Central Election Commission stated that because candidate lists were already formally submitted before the incident, Uzulnieks will remain on the ballot despite his party expulsion, though ZZS stated it would remove campaign materials featuring him.
How will this rapid leadership shift within the welfare ministry impact the coalition’s campaign heading into the October election?
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