A "political" decision was made to mollify voters, the LETA news agency suggests.
Straujuma's Unity party proposed aligning the refugee benefit with the minimum income level (€138.00), plus covering apartment rental fees to take the burden off municipal governments (about an extra €50 monthly, Straujuma suggested.)
Monday's coalition meeting also decided to postpone a review of the refugee accommodation plan prepared by the Ministry of Interior yet again, a further signal of the slow pace of progress on the issue.
National Alliance board member Raivis Dzintars told reporters that this was because of objections raised by his party and the Union of Greens and Farmers.
The coalition's task force will look into the matter again during a meeting on October 27, added Dzintars
The Interior Ministry's latest version of the refugee accommodation strategy for 2016 and 2017 said that it would cost Latvia €15.45 million in total, and that €8.93 million of the amount would have to be allocated from the state budget. The government had been expected to review the document on October 27.
