Mar 5 • 10:00 UTC 🇱🇻 Latvia TVNET

ZZS accuses Švinks of hiding information about 'Rail Baltica'

The Green and Farmers' Union in coalition accuses Transport Minister Ainis Švinks of unjustly classifying information related to the 'Rail Baltica' project.

The Green and Farmers' Union (ZZS), a party in Latvia's coalition government, has publicly called for Transport Minister Ainis Švinks to revoke the limited access status of information related to the implementation and financing of the 'Rail Baltica' project. This announcement comes in light of discussions during a meeting of the Saeima Budget and Finance (Tax) Committee on March 3rd, where the topic of budget appropriations reallocations tied to the project was raised. ZZS emphasizes that the classification of this information, which is crucial for public accountability, needs reconsideration, given its relevance to taxpayer funding and state governance.

The political movement underlines that limited access status should only apply if the order contains trade secrets. However, they argue that the Transport Ministry has unjustly concealed information that the public should have access to, particularly since the protection of trade secrets law stipulates that information related to the execution of public administration functions should not be treated as confidential. ZZS's stance reflects broader concerns regarding transparency in public projects and accountability in the governance framework as it pertains to significant infrastructure projects like 'Rail Baltica.'

This push for transparency comes at a critical time, as the 'Rail Baltica' project holds strategic importance for Latvia's connectivity with the rest of the Baltic region and beyond. By calling out the potential mishandling of information by the Transport Minister, ZZS is not only advocating for public access to vital information but also positioning itself as a guardian of transparency and accountability in government.

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