Aleksandrs Bartaševics, the dismissed mayor of Rēzekne, has publicly accused the Ministry of Finance of intentionally obstructing the city's council decisions regarding its 2026 budget. In a Facebook post, Bartaševics claims that the objections raised by the ministry against the approved budget are merely formal and serve to prolong the stabilization process of the municipality. He contends that the ministry's actions are strategic, as completing this process would diminish its influence and control over Rēzekne.

Bartaševics asserts that the city council is operating within the legal framework and is committed to implementing the budgetary decisions that have been made. He has indicated that any attempts at administrative pressure from the ministry that fall outside legal boundaries will be met with strong and public opposition. This situation highlights the tensions between local governance and central government oversight, underscoring the complexities of budget approval processes in Latvia.

The Riga news agency LETA has yet to receive a response from the municipal leadership regarding how they plan to proceed with the budget in light of the ministry's objections. This ongoing conflict draws attention to the critical role of financial governance and the potential for conflicts between local authorities and central government departments as municipalities strive for fiscal autonomy.