They may have control of the reins of power, but most of Latvia's leading politicians generally have fairly humble lives, at least as far as their earnings are concerned, according to official tax declarations they have submitted recently.
Public officials must submit annual declarations of their assets and liabilities, and candidates for political office must do likewise and make them available to the public.
According to LTV, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis of the Greens and Farmers Union earned about three percent more in 2017 than the previous year, raking in 63,000 euros for heading the government. During that period, he also earned 10,000 euros from selling a car, which he put towards buying a new Mitsubishi Outlander. His debts stand at 28,000 euros, and he owns land and buildings in Jērcēni district in the north of the country.
Economy Minister and leader of the Vienotiba party Arvils Ašeradens got a 4% earnings hike last year, making 60,000 euros. However, he already has an impressive property portfolio worth more than half a million euros. He owes less than 10,000 euros and has 4,500 euros in the bank. His motor pool is interesting, consisting of a used Citroen and a Soviet-era UAZ off-roader. It's a shame he doesn't rock up to cabinet meetings in it!
Despite being in one of the real hot seats in government, Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Greens and Farmers Union) also makes around 60,000 euros, though this is an 11% increase on what she made the previous year. Let's hope that doesn't contribute to an overheating economy! There is some reassuring evidence of fiscal prudence in the facts that she managed to increase her savings and reduce her debts at the same time, while the fuel economy of her humble Mitsubishi Colt is commendable.
Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis (Greens and Farmers Union) is a big guy - which probably explains why he needs a big Chrysler minivan to move around in. He is another member of the 60k club, has nearly 20k salted away in the bank and prudently increased his pension contributions last year too. He has two apartments in Riga and a couple of country properties, too.
Unsurprisingly it is jet-setting Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs who has the highest travel expenses among the ministerial set. He claimed more than 5,000 euros in travel expenses last year, and must have also benefited from as many canapes as he could manage for free. His earnings of 57,000 euros were modest but his savings of 310,000 euros are substantial. He owns neither cars nor real estate.
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