Saeima Speaker asks Ombudsman to consider his position / Article

On Thursday, during the plenary session of the Saeima, MPs noted for the first time in recent years that Ombudsman Juris Jansons had not arrived to deliver his report on the work of the Ombudsman’s Office, contrary to what had been planned. Jansons has a sick note.

He was also on sick leave last week, when the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee postponed consideration of the report on the work of the office in 2024. This week, the report was presented to the committee by the Ombudsman’s deputy, Ineta Piļāne, but the hearing of the report in the Saeima did not take place. A similar problem was observed last year and in recent years.

Jansons said he was in the hospital when he didn’t show up at Thursday’s Saeima session. He’ll decide whether to resign after he’s discharged. 

He pointed out that he had been in hospital since Thursday due to cardiological and neurological problems related to high blood pressure and arrhythmia. However, on Wednesday, 21 May, he had already been on sick leave and it was clear that he would not be able to attend the Saeima on Thursday due to health problems, for which Jansons’ deputy sent a letter to the Presidium of the Parliament.

Jansons admitted that this was not the first time he had failed to attend the reading of a report – the previous occasion was in 2023.  When asked whether he plans to resign from his position as ombudsman, Jansons admitted that he has not made a decision. “I don’t want to rush into any decisions. Some colleagues say I should resign, but others say I should stay no matter what,” Jansons said. He will return to this issue when he is discharged from the hospital. He could not say when that might be.

He did not comment on whether this had anything to do with other people’s allegations of excessive alcohol consumption. “I will not comment on that, it would be pure speculation to say anything about it,” said the ombudsman. However, he did not deny that he had consumed alcohol in his life, possibly too much, and that “this has had certain consequences.”

In this situation, action is also needed from the Ombudsman’s Office, as emphasised by Solvita Olsena, a sworn lawyer and medical law expert, on Latvian Radio.

“It must be taken into account that various disorders that may be related to the development of various addictions in the human body are a biological problem for many people. It is clear that mental disorders affect a person’s ability to do their job safely, efficiently and as intended,” explained Olsena.

In such cases, those responsible for the work of the person concerned must also take responsibility, according to the legal expert.

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