Although next year's state budget foresees an increase in salaries of the State Police, it is insufficient to solve the enormous problems, the industry estimates. Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) promises more tangible financial support from 2025, Latvian Television's De Facto reported December 10.
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The solidarity mechanism announced by the European Union to share medicines in the event of shortages will not solve the ongoing lack of medicinal products, as acknowledged by the Latvian medical authorities, since the problem is more deeply rooted, Latvian Television's De Facto reported December 3.
One of the most controversial issues in next year's state budget discussions is the issue of value-added tax (VAT) on vegetables, fruits, and berries grown in Latvia, which at the end of November resulted in an industry request to resign Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on December 4..
In the next heating season, which is forecast to be tough, support for all electricity users, will no longer apply. Instead, a targeted support system should be in place. However, according to Latvian Television's De Facto broadcast of June 5, the State does not really know who the people most in need are, and a system must be prepared in less than three months.
Apart from billionaire Pyotr Aven, at least three more businessmen with links to Latvia were in Putin's audience on February 24 when Russia began the invasion of Ukraine, according to Latvian Television's investigative broadcast De Facto which aired March 6.
There are over a thousand Covid-19 patients in Latvian hospitals, but only around half of them have Covid-19 as the primary diagnosis. Hospitals say that even if the patients are not hospitalized primarily due to Covid, it still is an additional burden, Latvian Television's De Facto reported February 13.
With costs increasing not only for gas or electricity but also food, there is a risk that the poor get even poorer even if they have a job or pension and their income has not decreased. Many in Latvia are at risk of poverty, with nearly half of them among pensioners, Latvian Television's De Facto reported January 9.
Although the Covid-19 vaccination rate is growing and finally reaching over 100 thousand jabs per week, Latvia looks quite different from other European countries, not only in terms of the slow pace, but also with population that has been reached, Latvian Television broadcast “De facto” reported May 23.
Along with other European countries, Latvia has set ambitious climate targets, including sharp reductions in vehicle CO2 and other emissions. But, according to the Latvian auto association, it is not clear how to reach these goals on a national level, Latvian Television broadcast De Facto reported May 16.
Centers for mass vaccination against Covid-19 are due to open early April. The main problem may be finding staff who will carry out vaccination in these centers, Latvian Television's analytical broadcast De Facto reported March 14.
Decisions on restrictive measures, which should have come before the more contagious virus spread, are lagging behind, Latvian Television's analytical broadcast De Facto reported March 7.
While starting to vaccinate social care center employees and customers, officials and elderly people, less attention is paid to another group which, in terms of priorities, is above these: hospital patients before complex surgeries or chemotherapy, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported February 21.
A Latvian mother is facing the prospect of extradition to South Africa from Denmark to face trial after fleeing with her children, prompting questions to be asked by LTV's De Facto investigative show about whether Latvia has done enough to represent its citizen in a complex international legal wrangle.