Latvia's incoming president, criticised for taking undeclared cash payments from patients, said today he had been fined by the tax authorities ahead of taking office next week.
Surgeon Valdis Zatlers was chosen as president by parliament on May 31st to replace Vaira Vike-Freiberga, eastern Europe's first female president. He takes office on July 8th.
His revelation that he took undeclared cash payments as thanks for his work, like many Latvian doctors, caused a storm of criticism from some commentators, who said he was unsuitable to lead the European Union and Nato member nation.
"I have paid 250 Latvian lats (€370) in fines," Mr Zatlers told a news conference.
This was for providing incomplete information in his tax return, he said, and all outstanding issues with the tax office were now settled.
The affair renewed debate in Latvia about payments that patients make to doctors on top of regular medical fees.
While doctors see the payments as thanks for their work, critics say patients want to secure the best treatment possible in a country which remains one of the poorest in the EU.