Politics
Politics
Update 07:24
Latvian society should stop being "servants of the letter" (implying following bureaucratic rules even in extraordinary situations), Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) said in an interview on Latvian Television January 25.
Experts, analysts and foreign policy wonks of all flavors will be pleased to learn that the annual Foreign and Security Policy Yearbook 2023 is now available to download for free.
The Conservatives (Konservatīvie) political party appeared close to collapse January 24 with news of more resignations from party ranks.
On January 19, the Saeima transferred to viewing in committees amendments to the Law on Pre-election Agitation, which provide that pre-election campaigns should be conducted only in the official state language, Latvian.
There will be sufficient funding available for the XXVII General Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival to be held this summer, said Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš ("New Unity") in an interview on Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" news show January 11.
Politician and former finance and health minister Gundars Bērziņš passed away on Sunday, January 8 at the age of 63, according to the LETA newswire, citing social media posts by the deceased's colleagues.
In October, the story of the expected rapid increase in wages for political positions drew a lot of attention. A public initiative was submitted about the freezing of top state officials' salaries. The initiative has been transferred to the government, which should respond more than four months later, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on January 8.
Three months after the October 1 Saeima elections, the party that received the most votes, New Unity (JV), has seen a drop in its political ratings, Latvian Television reports.
The newly created Ministry of Climate and Energy has begun work in Latvia, where putting a brake on planned increases in electricity distribution rates is defined as the first emergency work. Long-term objectives are also outlined, Latvian Radio reported on January 3.
On Thursday, December 22 at an extraordinary meeting, the management of Jurmala City Council decided to raise their salaries to the maximum possible rates.
Riga City Court on Wednesday, December 21, acquitted Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nils Ušakovs (Harmony) in the first instance of secretly storing an unauthorized video surveillance device at a time when he was mayor of Rīga, LETA and Latvian Radio reported.
The new Latvian coalition government agreed on a schedule for its spending plans on December 20, which foresees the budget for 2022 being delivered to the Saeima for debate and approval in early February 2022.
The State Security Service (VDD) has issued a warning to the political party For Stability! in connection with statements made by its members in an interview with information channels used for Russian and Belarusian propaganda purposes, the Service said on December 20.
At the meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, December 20, the Cabinet approved the draft order on the reorganization of the Ministry of Economics (EM) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM), and the creation of a new Ministry of Climate and Energy from January 1, 2023.
Economic growth could not be expected next year and the economic slowdown is expected to last at least half a year, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) said in an interview with Latvian Radio on December 20.
Last Wednesday, the second government of Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) was finally approved after two and a half months of negotiations. The main document listing the work to be done is the government declaration, with 328 points and numerous deviations. The 'De Facto' broadcast of Latvian Television asked the new ministers about the contents and thoughts on the document December 18.
Latvia finally got a new government on December 14, seventy-four days after elections on October 1 decided the political future of the country for the next four years.
On Wednesday, December 14, Riga City Council deputies elected the representative of the faction of the National Alliance/Latvian Regional Alliance, Edvards Ratnieks, as the vice-mayor of Rīga.
The political forces forming the new coalition - New Unity, United List and National Alliance – signed an agreement on the establishment of the government on December 14.
The three political forces forming the incoming Latvian government – "Jaunā Vienotība" (New Unity, JV), "Apvienotais saraksts" (United List, AS) and "Nacionālā apvienība" (National Alliance, NA) released the texts December 13 of their joint government declaration, cooperation agreement and fiscal discipline agreement.
More than a month after the 14th Saeima elections, which were held on October 1, there's was little major to report in terms of changes of political allegiance in November, according to the latest polling data conducted by the research center SKDS, commissioned by Latvian Television (LTV).
Nearly two-and-a-half months after parliamentary elections that were held on October 1, Latvia should finally get a new, three-party coalition, next week.
Friday December 9 sees the Latvian government hosting a meeting of Prime Ministers of the Baltic Council of Ministers, with the participation of Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė.
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.
The political association United List (AS) has chosen their ministerial candidates as the last of the three coalition parties, AS said on Tuesday, December 6.
Allowing the Russian television channel “TV Rain” or “Dozhdj” to take shelter from Kremlin censorship and to work in Latvia was the right decision, the Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs told Latvian Television on December 5, adding that the channel should be held responsible for providing assistance to the Russian army.
The National Alliance and New Unity parties have decided on their future Minister candidates, the parties said December 5.
The new coalition forming the next government has agreed not to change the tax system in times of crisis, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) said in an interview on Latvian Television November 30.
On November 23, the administrative district court in Riga rejected the application of former Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs for the recovery of €100,000 in a dispute with the state regarding harm to health, which the applicant believes was done when he was in prison.
Latvian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Tatjana Ždanoka surprised no-one November 23 by voting against a motion designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
Most important
Most read
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.