RIGA — Aivars Lembergs, the unsinkable mayor of Ventspils and leader of the Greens and Farmers Union, has said that he will definitely run in October’s election if he is arrested though he may consider refraining from participating if law enforcement agencies leave him alone.

Lembergs told the LNT station on Friday that recent statements by [private_supervisor]the government have given him the jitters and that he fears he may be arrested again.

“If they arrest me, I will run in the election. If they don’t, I will think about it,” the mayor said.

Lembergs, who has been Ventspils mayor since the mid-1980s, was arrested in 2007 on charges of graft, money laundering and providing false income declarations. He spent several months in jail before finally being released. His trial is pending.

In 2006 Lembergs topped the party list from the Greens and Farmers Union and was their candidate for prime minister. The party finished second in the election.

Incredibly, Lembergs remained the party’s PM candidate even after his arrest and confinement.

The mayor said at a press conference on Thursday that there have been signals leading him to believe that another arrest was possible. “There’s no other way my competitors can stop me,” he said.

He said that the country’s political elite was prepared to conspire against him so as to rid themselves of a popular adversary and strengthen their chances of victory.

By suggesting he would stay out of the parliamentary race this fall, Lembergs, who is enormously popular among pensioners thanks to his patronage, seems to think he can bargain with the political elite via the media.

Earlier the Ventspils mayor said he would only run in the October ballot if the Greens and Farmers Union had chances to do well.

“If the Greens and Farmers can win a majority of votes, preferably an absolute majority, (I am ready),” he told the NRA paper, which he sponsors, in an interview. “If not, then it should be at least a bipartisan coalition, providing an opportunity to work at least four years.” Lembergs has said he did not rule out serving as prime minister.

The mayor continues to be an indefatigable critic of the United States, NATO, and George Soros, whom, he believes, is trying to control Latvia. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]the government have given him the jitters and that he fears he may be arrested again.

“If they arrest me, I will run in the election. If they don’t, I will think about it,” the mayor said.

Lembergs, who has been Ventspils mayor since the mid-1980s, was arrested in 2007 on charges of graft, money laundering and providing false income declarations. He spent several months in jail before finally being released. His trial is pending.

In 2006 Lembergs topped the party list from the Greens and Farmers Union and was their candidate for prime minister. The party finished second in the election.

Incredibly, Lembergs remained the party’s PM candidate even after his arrest and confinement.

The mayor said at a press conference on Thursday that there have been signals leading him to believe that another arrest was possible. “There’s no other way my competitors can stop me,” he said.

He said that the country’s political elite was prepared to conspire against him so as to rid themselves of a popular adversary and strengthen their chances of victory.

By suggesting he would stay out of the parliamentary race this fall, Lembergs, who is enormously popular among pensioners thanks to his patronage, seems to think he can bargain with the political elite via the media.

Earlier the Ventspils mayor said he would only run in the October ballot if the Greens and Farmers Union had chances to do well.

“If the Greens and Farmers can win a majority of votes, preferably an absolute majority, (I am ready),” he told the NRA paper, which he sponsors, in an interview. “If not, then it should be at least a bipartisan coalition, providing an opportunity to work at least four years.” Lembergs has said he did not rule out serving as prime minister.

The mayor continues to be an indefatigable critic of the United States, NATO, and George Soros, whom, he believes, is trying to control Latvia. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]the government have given him the jitters and that he fears he may be arrested again.

“If they arrest me, I will run in the election. If they don’t, I will think about it,” the mayor said.

Lembergs, who has been Ventspils mayor since the mid-1980s, was arrested in 2007 on charges of graft, money laundering and providing false income declarations. He spent several months in jail before finally being released. His trial is pending.

In 2006 Lembergs topped the party list from the Greens and Farmers Union and was their candidate for prime minister. The party finished second in the election.

Incredibly, Lembergs remained the party’s PM candidate even after his arrest and confinement.

The mayor said at a press conference on Thursday that there have been signals leading him to believe that another arrest was possible. “There’s no other way my competitors can stop me,” he said.

He said that the country’s political elite was prepared to conspire against him so as to rid themselves of a popular adversary and strengthen their chances of victory.

By suggesting he would stay out of the parliamentary race this fall, Lembergs, who is enormously popular among pensioners thanks to his patronage, seems to think he can bargain with the political elite via the media.

Earlier the Ventspils mayor said he would only run in the October ballot if the Greens and Farmers Union had chances to do well.

“If the Greens and Farmers can win a majority of votes, preferably an absolute majority, (I am ready),” he told the NRA paper, which he sponsors, in an interview. “If not, then it should be at least a bipartisan coalition, providing an opportunity to work at least four years.” Lembergs has said he did not rule out serving as prime minister.

The mayor continues to be an indefatigable critic of the United States, NATO, and George Soros, whom, he believes, is trying to control Latvia. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]the government have given him the jitters and that he fears he may be arrested again.

“If they arrest me, I will run in the election. If they don’t, I will think about it,” the mayor said.

Lembergs, who has been Ventspils mayor since the mid-1980s, was arrested in 2007 on charges of graft, money laundering and providing false income declarations. He spent several months in jail before finally being released. His trial is pending.

In 2006 Lembergs topped the party list from the Greens and Farmers Union and was their candidate for prime minister. The party finished second in the election.

Incredibly, Lembergs remained the party’s PM candidate even after his arrest and confinement.

The mayor said at a press conference on Thursday that there have been signals leading him to believe that another arrest was possible. “There’s no other way my competitors can stop me,” he said.

He said that the country’s political elite was prepared to conspire against him so as to rid themselves of a popular adversary and strengthen their chances of victory.

By suggesting he would stay out of the parliamentary race this fall, Lembergs, who is enormously popular among pensioners thanks to his patronage, seems to think he can bargain with the political elite via the media.

Earlier the Ventspils mayor said he would only run in the October ballot if the Greens and Farmers Union had chances to do well.

“If the Greens and Farmers can win a majority of votes, preferably an absolute majority, (I am ready),” he told the NRA paper, which he sponsors, in an interview. “If not, then it should be at least a bipartisan coalition, providing an opportunity to work at least four years.” Lembergs has said he did not rule out serving as prime minister.

The mayor continues to be an indefatigable critic of the United States, NATO, and George Soros, whom, he believes, is trying to control Latvia. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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