RIGA, Dec 16 (LETA) - Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, endorsed by Saeima last week, directly affect at least 16 officials from different ministries who also work at state or municipal companies, while information on local government officials who work at state and municipal companies is still being collated, the State Chancellery informed LETA.

The amendments will enter into force on January 1, while transitional provisions stipulate that officials to which they apply must quit working at state or municipal companies or resign from their official positions by August 31, 2025, said the State Chancellery.

According to the State Chancellery, the restrictions apply to Ilze Osa, deputy state secretary of the Regional Development at Smart Administration Ministry, who is also board chairwoman at the Electronic Communications Office of Latvia, and Sintija Kikste, deputy director of the Property and Logistics Department at the Foreign Ministry, who is also a member of the supervisory board of Latvijas Valsts Mezi forest management company.

The restrictions also concern five officials of the Finance Ministry: deputy state secretary and chairwoman of the supervisory board of Development Finance Institution Altum Liga Klavina, head of the ministry's administration Ieva Braunfelde, who also works as deputy head of the supervisory board of state real estate management company Valsts Nekustamie Ipasumi, deputy state secretary Olga Bogdanova, who also works as deputy head of supervisory board of Augstsprieguma Tikls power distribution network operator, deputy state secretary Armands Eberhards, who is also a member of Augstsprieguma Tikls supervisory board, and deputy state secretary Ilmars Snucins, who is also chairman of supervisory board of natural gas transmission and storage company Conexus.

In addition, the restrictions also concern two officials at the State Treasury: Deputy Treasurer Kaspars Abolins, who also serves as chairman of supervisory board of Augstsprieguma Tikls, and Deputy Treasurer Janis Ponis, who is a member of management board of Latvijas Loto national lottery company.

The restrictions also affect two officials of the Transport Ministry: the Aviation Department's director Arturs Kokars, who is also chairman of supervisory board at Pasazieru Vilciens (Passenger Trains) company, and the Development and Financial Planning Department's director Baiba Vilipa, who is a member of management board of Ventspils Port.

Another two officials who will have to choose between their two positions are Latvian National Sports Center's board chairman Daniels Natrins, who is also a member of the board of the Latvian Olympic Team, and Latvijas Koncerti board member Guntars Kirsis, who is also a member of the board at Dzintari Concert Hall.

The new restrictions also concern Arturs Berzins, chairman of the board at Gintermuiza Hospital and member of the board at Piejuras Hospital, Girts Ansons, member of the board of Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital and National Mental Health Center, as well as Margarita Epermane, chairwoman of the board at national rehabilitation center Vaivari and member of the board at Bauska Hospital.

As reported, Saeima last week approved amendments to the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials in the final reading, which provide for significant restrictions on combining offices by public officials, including working at state and municipal companies.

The purpose of the amendments is prevention of conflicts of interest in activities of public officials. According to the amendments, public officials will not be allowed to also work on management boards of state and municipal companies, and companies operating at special economic zones and free ports.

The amendments provide that senior officials of state and municipal institutions will be allowed to also have another job, but not as management board member at state or municipal companies.

The amendments also stipulate that a public official may combine his/her office with no more than one position of a member of the supervisory board of a company for a term of up to one year, provided that it does not result in a conflict of interest and does not cause harm to the performance of direct duties of the public official.