Madara Līcīte / Author

30.05.23

Thousands turn up to welcome Latvia's hockey team back

On Monday, May 29, the Latvian hockey team returned from the world championship. In order to celebrate the success of the hockey professionals, several thousand people spent the spontaneous public holiday at the Freedom Monument, where the Latvian hockey team was awaited and honored in a special event.

May 30, 2023, 6:58

19.05.23

Parties ponder potential coalition shake-up in shadow of presidential vote

In parallel with backroom conversations about support for one or another presidential candidate, there are also discussions and rumors about potential changes in the ruling coalition, reported LTV May 18.

May 19, 2023, 9:32

23.04.23

Fire at Domina shopping center on Saturday

On Saturday at 18:19 the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) received a call to Ieriķu Street in Riga, where a fire broke out at the Domina shopping center. Firefighters contained the spread of flames at 20:06, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.

April 23, 2023, 8:41

18.04.23

National Alliance supports potential second term for President Levits

The National Alliance party (NA) has expressed support for the incumbent President Egils Levits being re-elected, Latvian Radio reported on April 17. The New Unity (JV) has also previously stated it supported Levits.

April 18, 2023, 6:21

06.04.23

Russians in Latvia will get longer time to pass language exams

On Wednesday, April 5, the Saeima supported amendments to the Immigration Law in the final reading, which provide for an extension of the deadline for examining applications for residence permits for Russian citizens living in Latvia who have passed a Latvian language exam or applied for it.

April 6, 2023, 8:23

05.04.23

Free feminine hygiene items at schools to be considered(update)

Some girls in Latvia are forced to skip school due to not having access to necessary hygiene products every month. The necessary signatures for an initiative to change the situation on Manabalss.lv have been collected within two weeks. Further progress of this initiative in the Saeima was supported April 4 by the responsible committee.

April 5, 2023, 7:08

19.03.23

Parties prepare to hear Presidential pitches

With the date now known when Latvia will choose its President for the next four years (May 31st, as previously reported) the seven political parties represented in Saeima have started to be more active in searching for their preferred candidates.

March 19, 2023, 11:24

30.12.22

Rīga shows great activity in filling buses to Ukraine with donations

After the call was made to fill up public transport buses, set for Ukraine, with donations, people's response has been great, Latvian Television reported on December 29.

December 30, 2022, 7:21

29.12.22

'Twitterconvoy' organizer named European of the Year in Latvia

The organizer of the donation drive 'Twitterconvoy' from Latvia to Ukraine, Reinis Pozņaks, was named European of the Year 2022 in Latvia December 28 by the Non-Governmental Organization European Movement – Latvia.

December 29, 2022, 8:27

08.12.22

Parties hesitant to introduce deputy ministers in Latvia

Next week, a vote in the Saeima on the approval of the next government is expected. It is planned that the amendments to the Law on the formation of the Ministry of Climate and Energy and the introduction of deputy ministers' offices will come into force a day before that. However, at least for the time being, the parties have abandoned the plan of deputy ministers, Latvian Television reported on December 8.

December 8, 2022, 8:13

30.11.22

Civil union law remains stuck in parliament committee

The Saeima Mandate Committee on November 30 rejected to advance the initiative on the legal protection of all families for viewing in the parliament.

November 30, 2022, 18:10

15.11.22

Still no significant progress in Latvia's coalition formation

Future coalition partners have not taken any steps closer toward the next government. Representatives of the United List (AS) are calling on potential coalition partners to sign another memorandum of cooperation. AS also met with President of State Egil Levits on Tuesday, November 15, and presented their plan. Levits confirmed that the parties involved in the government expressed their willingness to continue the negotiations, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.

November 15, 2022, 20:21

03.11.22

New ministry to be formed in Latvia

Continuing the formation of the government coalition, the party association New Unity, United List, and the National Alliance plan to sign a memorandum of cooperation this week. Politicians have managed to agree on the creation of a new ministry, the scope of which will still be debated, Latvian Television reported November 2.

November 3, 2022, 8:03

31.10.22

Coalition talks will continue, says Levits

Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš will continue to lead talks on building the new coalition, as follows from the words of President of Latvia Egils Levits after the meeting with Kariņš on October 31.

October 31, 2022, 19:10

18.10.22

Bigger news on coalition could be expected next Monday(update)

More significant news on the formation of the new coalition could be expected next Monday, said New Unity representative Arvils Ašeradens in an interview on Latvian Television October 18. Clarity on the new government could be expected in two weeks.

October 18, 2022, 18:38

18.10.22

Levits tells Kariņš to continue coalition talks

On Monday, October 17, the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, told Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to continue negotiations with potential coalition partners to find common denominators for the next government, which must be strong enough to work for four years.

October 18, 2022, 7:49

15.09.22

'Presidential oaks' planted in Jelgava

Celebrating the birthday of the first president of Latvia Jānis Čakste (in office 1922–1927) a 'presidential square' has been created in Jelgava with an oak planted in honor of each of the ten presidents of Latvia, Latvian Television reported on September 15.

September 15, 2022, 7:39

14.09.22

Rīga municipality plans to take over sidewalk cleaning in winter

The Housing and Environmental Affairs Committee of Riga City Council on Tuesday, September 13, supported the proposal to gradually move to centralized snow cleaning of sidewalks in Rīga over three years.

September 14, 2022, 9:58

01.09.22

School year begins in Latvia with concerns about lack of teachers

The new school year begins in Latvia, as usual, on September 1. The main challenges are the lack of study resources and teachers. These challenges are also accompanied by Ukrainian children joining schools and uncertainty about the Covid-19 situation, Latvian Television reported.

September 1, 2022, 7:40

24.08.22

'Sunflower path' weaves through Rīga on Ukraine's Independence Day(update)

To celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day and to show solidarity with Ukrainians, the association “Tavi draugi” (Your Friends) organizes a 'Sunflower Path' – a live chain of people handing sunflowers from the help center on Ventspils Street to the Ukrainian embassy on Wednesday, August 24.

August 24, 2022, 7:58

23.08.22

Seven detained by Soviet monument before demolition(update)

On the evening of Monday, August 22, a few dozen people gathered at the Soviet Army Monument in Pārdaugava, seven of whom were detained by the police, LETA reported.

August 23, 2022, 7:34

12.08.22

Help needed to fill load with donations for Ukraine

At the beginning of next week, the next truck with a cargo of help will be traveling from Rīga to Ukraine. The association “Tavi draugi” told Latvian Television that there is currently a lack of dry food and hygiene products for women and men.

August 12, 2022, 19:18

12.08.22

One Saeima candidate crossed out from list

On Friday, August 12, the Central Election Commission (CVK) decided to remove Toms Baltacis from the list of candidates from the political party association “Alliance for Latvia” in the Rīga constituency due to him being subject to the restriction of candidacy imposed by the Saeima election law for sanctioned persons.

August 12, 2022, 19:04

25.07.22

Latvian fighter in Ukraine tells of his experiences

Gundars Kalve was one of the first Latvians who volunteered to fight on the side of Ukraine following Russia's unprovoked invasion. Latvian Television met Kalve at his home near Krustpils. Harvest time has started on his farm and he has come to Latvia to do urgent work on the farm before returning to the fight for freedom.

July 25, 2022, 8:37

13.06.22

Latvia's Russians rally against war in Ukraine

A rally called “The voice of the Russians on embargo” was held near the Russian embassy in Rīga Sunday, June 12, Latvian Television reported.

June 13, 2022, 7:19

14.03.22

Latvian MP volunteering in Ukraine gives up deputy mandate

The Saeima deputy Juris Jurašs (Conservatives) who has voluntarily gone to defend Ukraine, has given up his deputy mandate, Latvian Television reported March 14.

March 14, 2022, 11:15

07.03.22

Help center for Ukrainians opens in Rīga

A center for assistance to Ukrainian war refugees was opened on Monday at Rīga Congress Hall, Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street 5.

March 7, 2022, 13:40

27.02.22

Volunteer drivers depart Latvia to pick up Ukrainian refugees

About 20 professional volunteer drivers have left Latvia to meet and bring back Ukrainian refugees from Polish border checkpoints, Latvian Television reported February 27.

February 27, 2022, 10:21

02.02.22

Students forced to quarantine due to lack of tests at schools

Several schools in Riga lack self-tests, so students who have become contact persons have to observe house quarantine. Minister of Education Anita Muižniece (New Conservative Party) calls for a review of the arrangements for contacts, Latvian Television reported February 1.

February 2, 2022, 7:14

30.12.21

Police promise to keep an eye on New Year's celebrations

Over the weekend, the State Police will step up their efforts to ensure comprehensive monitoring of road traffic and compliance with epidemiological safety requirements, Latvian Television reported December 30.

December 30, 2021, 20:19

06.12.21

Maverick deputy Gobzems detained in unauthorized gathering(update)

On Monday, December 6, the State Police detained the Saeima deputy Aldis Gobzems in an unauthorized gathering in Tukums, LETA reported. Gobzems was later released.

December 6, 2021, 13:18

02.12.21

Ski slopes prepare to open

Latvian ski slopes are taking advantage of the snow and preparing to open for business, Latvian Television reported December 1.

December 2, 2021, 8:12