RIGA, Jan 20 (LETA) - Merger of Skulte county with the newly-developed municipality of Saulkrasti is the initiative of the lawmaker, said Saeima representative at court, Lauris Liepa, defending the new Law On Administrative Territories and Populated Areas.

The court is hearing the case, appealing the decision to merge Skulte county with Saulkrasti county and Ikskile town and Tinuzi county with Ogre county. Liepa said that the parliament has explained the reason for the merger of Skulte county with Saulkrasti. Skulte county primarily is economically linked with the Skulte port, and also, Saulkrasti in a long term will be developed in a new and perspective regional center.

In repsect to Ikskile, Liepa underscored that it is one of the territories recognized as growing in a perspective, and there are not that many municipalities in Latvia's overall demographic picture, but this has not been the only reason.

"Ikskile's residents are wealthy, the municipality is well-developed, but it is not the only criterion in order to ensure sustainability, there is also economic development criterion," said Liepa.

As reported, on October 26, 2020, the Constitutional Court decided to combine the two cases into one.

The court will review compliance of the mergers with Articles 1 and 101 of the Latvian Constitution, and Part 6 of Article 4 and Article 5 of the European Charter of Local Self-Governments.