RIGA, April 27 (LETA) - Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Arturs Toms Pless (For Development) has decided to initiate dissolution of the Dundaga regional council.

Since the Dundaga council has proven unable to elect a chairperson and vice-chair and has suggested in its reply to the ministry that it will make no further attempts to elect its leadership, the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry will submit to the government a bill to dissolve the Dundaga council, Pless informed. 

According to the Law on Local Governments, to dissolve a local council, the Cabinet of Ministers has to adopt a bill which is then submitted to the Saeima for approval. 

One of the provisions of the Law on Local Governments stipulates that the Saeima can dissolve a local council if it has not elected a chairperson, vice chairperson or standing committees two months after its first meeting or the resignation of the chairperson, vice chairperson or standing committees.

After the council's dissolution, the Saeima has to appoint an interim administration to run the given administrative territory until the next council is elected and takes office. 

As reported, the local council of the western Latvian region of Dundaga on Monday missed its last opportunity to elect a new leadership.

Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Arturs Toms Pless (For Development/For) had ordered the Dundaga council to elect a new chairperson, warning that if the councilors fail to elect their new chair by April 26, he will ask the Saeima to decide on dissolving the Dundaga council.

As Pless' spokeswoman Agnese Varpina informed LETA, members of the Dundaga council did not explain to the minister the failure to elect a chairperson.

Pless will inform about his further steps on Tuesday, the spokeswoman said.

The Dundaga council has been without a chairman since January 28 due to the squabbles between the three regional parties represented on the local council.