Riga Deputy Mayor Ainārs Šlesers has been gunning for the prime minister position since December. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh.
RIGA — Riga Deputy Mayor Ainārs Šlesers, who is positioning himself to be Latvia’s next prime minister, harshly criticized the current government Wednesday for losing a €101 million investment chance from Ryanair to Lithuania.
The Irish budget airline is turning Kaunas into its 40th operational base, with nine new routes starting in May. The expansion will create 1,000 jobs. Of course, the Latvian government is already the majority [private_supervisor]stakeholder in airBaltic, which will compete directly with Ryanair. Despite this conflict of interest, Šlesers chastised the government for not doing more to reel in Ryanair.
“This is blatant proof that the current Latvian government and the Competition Council’s myopia and economic illiteracy,” Šlesers told the press. “Even more, I would call it a flagrant criminal injury to Latvian national interests.”
Šlesers said Latvia’s Competition Council, noting that Lithuania had lowered its airport fees to a comparable level of the discounts Riga International Airport gave airBaltic before being ordered to cease.
“At a time when the Latvian unemployment has torn the Latvian budget and the economy lacks the money, when we should fight for every job, for any investment that attracts lats,” Šlesers asserted, “with their decisions and the tax policy of the current Latvian government and the Competition Council, they have undoubtedly proved themselves as fervent patriots of Lithuania. Lithuania may grant them their highest national honors. Latvian in turn should try and put them in prison for injury to national interests.”
[/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]stakeholder in airBaltic, which will compete directly with Ryanair. Despite this conflict of interest, Šlesers chastised the government for not doing more to reel in Ryanair.
“This is blatant proof that the current Latvian government and the Competition Council’s myopia and economic illiteracy,” Šlesers told the press. “Even more, I would call it a flagrant criminal injury to Latvian national interests.”
Šlesers said Latvia’s Competition Council, noting that Lithuania had lowered its airport fees to a comparable level of the discounts Riga International Airport gave airBaltic before being ordered to cease.
“At a time when the Latvian unemployment has torn the Latvian budget and the economy lacks the money, when we should fight for every job, for any investment that attracts lats,” Šlesers asserted, “with their decisions and the tax policy of the current Latvian government and the Competition Council, they have undoubtedly proved themselves as fervent patriots of Lithuania. Lithuania may grant them their highest national honors. Latvian in turn should try and put them in prison for injury to national interests.” [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]stakeholder in airBaltic, which will compete directly with Ryanair. Despite this conflict of interest, Šlesers chastised the government for not doing more to reel in Ryanair.
“This is blatant proof that the current Latvian government and the Competition Council’s myopia and economic illiteracy,” Šlesers told the press. “Even more, I would call it a flagrant criminal injury to Latvian national interests.”
Šlesers said Latvia’s Competition Council, noting that Lithuania had lowered its airport fees to a comparable level of the discounts Riga International Airport gave airBaltic before being ordered to cease.
“At a time when the Latvian unemployment has torn the Latvian budget and the economy lacks the money, when we should fight for every job, for any investment that attracts lats,” Šlesers asserted, “with their decisions and the tax policy of the current Latvian government and the Competition Council, they have undoubtedly proved themselves as fervent patriots of Lithuania. Lithuania may grant them their highest national honors. Latvian in turn should try and put them in prison for injury to national interests.” [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]stakeholder in airBaltic, which will compete directly with Ryanair. Despite this conflict of interest, Šlesers chastised the government for not doing more to reel in Ryanair.
“This is blatant proof that the current Latvian government and the Competition Council’s myopia and economic illiteracy,” Šlesers told the press. “Even more, I would call it a flagrant criminal injury to Latvian national interests.”
Šlesers said Latvia’s Competition Council, noting that Lithuania had lowered its airport fees to a comparable level of the discounts Riga International Airport gave airBaltic before being ordered to cease.
“At a time when the Latvian unemployment has torn the Latvian budget and the economy lacks the money, when we should fight for every job, for any investment that attracts lats,” Šlesers asserted, “with their decisions and the tax policy of the current Latvian government and the Competition Council, they have undoubtedly proved themselves as fervent patriots of Lithuania. Lithuania may grant them their highest national honors. Latvian in turn should try and put them in prison for injury to national interests.” [/private_subscription 1 year]
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hah. and again Šlesers isn’t at fault – others are.
“Even more, I would call it a flagrant criminal injury to Latvian national interests.”
…Latvian in turn should try and put them in prison for injury to national interests.”
It is to laugh! But Latvians have no discernible sense of humor.
Ainārs Šlesers has no morals or legitimate business acumen which is reflected in his politics. But then, he is not alone.