Thursday, July 11 saw the first meeting of a special parliamentary commission of inquiry into the painful progress of the massive 'Rail Baltica' infrastructure project.
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In June, 121 abandoned bicycles were identified in the historic center of Rīga. It remains to be decided what to do with them, Latvian Radio reported on July 7.
Abandoned bicycles do not only take up space on the bicycle racks in the center of Riga, they have also been a long-standing – literally – issue in the capital. Long-lost bicycles with flat or missing tires, a rusty chain or a torn seat have been plastered with messages urging people to remove them.
Abandoned bicycles do not only take up space on the bicycle racks in the center of Riga, they have also been a long-standing – literally – issue in the capital. Long-lost bicycles with flat or missing tires, a rusty chain or a torn seat have been plastered with messages urging people to remove them.
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has decided to suspend the payment of state budget funding to the opposition National Alliance (NA) political party for one year, as it is deemed to have significantly exceeded the permissible limit of spending state budget funding for communication with the public and political agitation in 2022, according to the anti-graft force, which also monitors political funding.
With employers and trade unions unable to agree on a solution to changes in sick pay, the Ministry of Economics, together with the Ministry of Welfare, has put forward a proposal to reduce the amount employers pay for sick leave. The trade unions are categorically opposed to this, Latvian Radio reported June 2.
In Latvia and Lithuania, a higher tolerance towards the purchase of contraband goods remains, while the opinion of the citizens of Estonia reveals a more law-abiding attitude, according to Arnis Kaktiņš, head of social research company SKDS, at the annual forum on the fight against smuggling.
Former Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis signalled June 27 that the United List political force to which he belongs is open to an invitation to join the current coalition, though he said talks on the matter were not currently ongoing.
New problems are emerging in the mandatory State Defence Service (VAD) - non-responsiveness to summonses for medical examinations, Latvian Radio reported Tuesday, June 4.
In the last days before the European Parliament elections, the emergence of deepfakes for or against a candidate cannot be ruled out, law enforcement officials say. If you spot artificial campaign material, you should report it to the State Police or the State Security Service, Latvian Radio reports.
The issue of pre-election debates in Russian in the public media continues to be a hot topic. A few days ago there was a protest in front of the Public Electronic Mass Media Council, and on Monday there is another one.
The arguments in the project on the dismissal of the Rēzekne City Council in financial difficulties, prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) and supported by the Government, are insufficient and the State would lose in case of legal proceedings, warns the Legal Bureau of the Saeima.
On Tuesday, May 7, the government approved the draft law drawn up by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) regarding the dismissal of Rēzekne City Council.
Alcohol sales in gas station shops will not be restricted, as decided by the majority of the Saeima Social and Labor Affairs Committee on April 16.
The Social and Labor Affairs Committee of the Saeima has expressed support for legal changes that would ban the sale of alcoholic beverages on weekdays and Saturdays between the hours of 20:00 and 10:00. However, another proposal to prohibit retail alcohol sales on Sundays from 15:00 was not supported.
Latvia is unlikely to get a new foreign minister this week, Latvian Radio reports April 8.
Over 3,400 people have signed the initiative submitted this week to stop the transit of manganese ore to Russia via Latvia, which is a third of the necessary signatures for its submission to the Saeima, Latvian Radio reported March 22.
Local government officials will need a special permit for access to state secrets, the Saeima decided on Thursday, March 21, endorsing in the final reading amendments to the law proposed by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs.
Once again, the flow of migrants from Belarus to Latvia is increasing. Less than a month after an increased border protection mode was suspended, the Ministry of the Interior will encourage it to reinstate it, Latvian Radio reported Monday, March 4.
As of March 1 in Rīga it is mandatory to install biodegradable waste sorting containers near apartment buildings. So far, this has been partly satisfactory, with around 2,000 organic waste containers installed and another 5,000 needed. They will be introduced in the coming months, Latvian Radio reported.
On February 22 the Saeima accepted in two readings the ban on imports of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus into Latvia until at least July 2025.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is warning that not only people mentioned on Russia's reported 'wanted list' but by anyone from Latvia considering going outside EU and NATO member states to third countries should consider their situation carefully.
The Ministry of Transport will consider the possibilities to provide postal services in libraries, shops, and other places, Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens (Progressives) said on February 7.
Eleven years of debate and argument appeared to reach a conclusion January 18 when, in the final reading, the Saeima supported the merger of public media – Latvian Television (LTV) and Latvian Radio (Latvijas Radio) – from 2025.
Political forces are still preparing lists of candidates for starting in the European Parliament (EP) elections. This process is characterized by the attraction of non-political candidates, internal competition, as well as pending decisions, Latvian Radio reported January 15.
The long-debated idea in Latvia to list shares of state-owned companies on the stock exchange will soon be on the government's table. The first company that could end up on the stock exchange is airBaltic. When others get there is not quite clear, Latvian Radio reported on January 9.
On Wednesday, January 3, 1,213 Russian citizens' permanent residence permits expire, so they might be expelled from Latvia. How many people will actually have to be forced to leave cannot be said at the moment, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told Latvian Radio.
The passport issue fee will increase this year, but not double, as it was announced late last year, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) said at a meeting of the Saeima Parliamentary Inquiry Committee January 3.
In a letter to the Saeima, the commercial bank “Rietumu Banka” has invited the parliament to reassess the nationalization plans of the 'Moscow House' in Rīga, Marijas Street 7, warning about the consequences for Latvian merchants whose assets are located in Russia. The Commission responsible could assess this aspect, but not delay the takeover of the Moscow House, Latvian Radio reported on January 2.
The past year was good in domestic tourism but still not at the pre-pandemic level, according to managers of rural and urban tourism surveyed by Latvian Radio.
In the Latvian-Russian border fence construction, builders have been confirmed for about two-thirds of the fence, but in other sections, builders will have to be sought for again, Latvian Radio reported on December 29.
At the end of this year, the contract of general practitioners (GPs) with the National Health Service (NVD) expires. Not all GPs have signed a new one yet, since according to Alise Nicmane-Aišpure, President of the Association of General Practitioners of Latvia, no association requirement has been implemented, Latvian Radio reported December 28.
In a much-anticipated verdict December 20, former Latvian central bank governor Ilmārs Rimšēvičs was sentenced to six years in prison for taking bribes.
The Saeima will advance a law on the acquisition of the so-called Moscow House building in Riga, Marijas Street 7, into state ownership for approval in January. If this happens, the building is intended to be used to assist Ukraine or to be given to Ukraine, Latvian Radio reported on December 12.
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