Politics

january 26, 11:25 26.01.22

Latvian Foreign Minister objects 'direct threat to democracy' posed by non-EU political funding

On 25 January 2022, the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council gathered in Brussels for a meeting at which EU Foreign Ministers discussed the priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, the EU’s ‘reinforcing democracy and integrity of elections’ legislative package, the Conference on the Future of Europe, and other matters.

january 26, 11:25

january 26, 10:42 26.01.22

President Levits issues statement on Russia-Ukraine situation

On January 26, President of Latvia Egils Levits issued a lengthy statement on the threat of Russian aggression against Ukraine and demands on NATO. Unusually for such a presidential statement, it takes the form of 14 separate numbered assertions rather than one long piece of text. It is reproduced in full below.

january 26, 10:42

january 26, 9:45 26.01.22

PM Kariņš: restrictions should not be priority now

The Ministry of Health 'stop tugging at the society' with restrictions and only emphasize vaccination, masks and testing, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said on Latvian Television January 26.

january 26, 9:45

january 25, 14:24 25.01.22

Hospitality sector requests Finance and Health ministers to step down

Ten Latvian tourism, guest accommodation and catering, beauty and sports industry associations are calling for the resignation of Finance Minister Jānis Reirs and Health Minister Daniels Pavļuts who have completely lost the trust of the companies, said business representative Evija Ansonska January 25.

january 25, 14:24

january 24, 19:06 24.01.22

Saeima deputy quits party but not parliament

Saeima deputy Romāns Naudiņš has announced he has decided to leave the ranks of the right-of-center National Alliance (NA) Saeima faction but will not be laying aside his mandate.

january 24, 19:06

january 24, 18:21 24.01.22

Hospitality sector to request Finance and Health ministers' resignation

At least nine tourism and hospitality associations have decided to request the resignation of Finance Minister Jānis Reirs (New Unity) and Health Minister Daniels Pavļuts (Development/For!), Latvian Radio reported January 24.

january 24, 18:21

january 24, 11:15 24.01.22

Three years of PM Kariņš' government in Latvia

January 23 marked three years since the approval of the government led by Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, the 40th Cabinet of Ministers (MK) of Latvia, according to a release published Monday by the MK.

january 24, 11:15

january 22, 10:38 22.01.22

President Levits: defunct political parties should not get public funding

Latvian State President Egils Levits has proposed legislative amendments intended to end public funding of political parties whose parliamentary groups have disintegrated.

january 22, 10:38

january 20, 17:11 20.01.22

Saeima conceptually supports ban on fur farming

On January 20 in the first reading, the Saeima supported amendments to the Animal Protection Law, which provides for the prohibition of the breeding of animals for the sole purpose of obtaining fur as of January 1, 2026.

january 20, 17:11

january 20, 11:48 20.01.22

New head of Constitution Protection Bureau approved

Egils Zviedris has been elected as the new head of the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB). This was decided unanimously by the Saeima on Thursday, January 20.

january 20, 11:48

january 19, 7:46 19.01.22

Roberts Zīle elected vice-president of European Parliament

Roberts Zīle, Member of the European Parliament, was elected as one of the Vice-Presidents of the EP on Tuesday January 18.

january 19, 7:46

january 9, 11:20 09.01.22

Candidate put forward to head SAB security service

Members of the National Security Council told the LETA newswire January 8 that they believed Egils Zviedris was a suitable candidate to become the next director of the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB).

january 9, 11:20

january 7, 18:35 07.01.22

Latvia's ambassadors assemble for annual Rīga get-together

From 10 to 13 January 2022, the heads of Latvia’s diplomatic missions abroad and Latvian ambassadors residing in Rīga will have their annual meeting to discuss their priorities and compare notes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said January 7.

january 7, 18:35

january 7, 9:29 07.01.22

Saeima supports Jewish compensation bill

Saeima on January 6 in the second reading supported the bill on good will compensation to the Jewish community for properties lost during the Holocaust worth EUR 40 million to be paid in ten years.

january 7, 9:29

january 6, 13:32 06.01.22

State of emergency extended until February 28

The state of emergency in force in Latvia has been extended until February 28, the Cabinet decided on January 6,

january 6, 13:32

january 5, 17:28 05.01.22

Long-time Jelgava region council chairman deposed

The deputies of Jelgava County Council opted for a fresh start to 2022 January 5 by dismissing the long-time chairman of the council Ziedonis Caune (Latvian Farmers' Union).

january 5, 17:28

january 5, 14:13 05.01.22

Latvian government breaks longevity record

Despite several predictions at the time of its formation that it wouldn't last long, the government of Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) on January 5 became the longest-serving single administration in Latvian history, the Cabinet Office said.

january 5, 14:13

january 4, 18:33 04.01.22

State of emergency could be extended until end of February

The state of emergency and the current restrictions are planned to be extended until February 28, the coalition agreed on January 4, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said at a press briefing.

january 4, 18:33

january 4, 9:22 04.01.22

Government to discuss extension of state of emergency

On Tuesday, January 4, the coalition will discuss the extension of the emergency announced due to the spread of Covid-19, Latvian Television reported.

january 4, 9:22

january 1, 0:01 01.01.22

Latvian President Egils Levits' New Year address

Fellow compatriots,

january 1, 0:01

december 31, 2021, 11:57 31.12.21

December party ratings show plenty to play for ahead of 2022 Saeima election

With 10 months to go before the next Saeima elections, there are few changes in voter attitudes other than a slight reduction in the number of people who are undecided about their voting intentions and a slight increase in the number saying they wil not bother voting at all, according to the latest party popularity poll from SKDS for Latvian Television.

december 31, 2021, 11:57

december 29, 2021, 15:33 29.12.21

President urges voters to be on guard against populism ahead of Saeima elections

As the forthcoming Saeima elections in October 2022 approach, President Egils Levits urged voters to think about the composition of the next parliament, and said populist political forces offer a potential threat to Latvia's democracy.

december 29, 2021, 15:33

december 29, 2021, 10:08 29.12.21

PM continues to urge vaccination, sensible New Year celebrations

Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš has once again urged anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to do so, and to get booster jabs, too.

december 29, 2021, 10:08

december 22, 2021, 9:21 22.12.21

President Levits urges people not to gather over holidays

In concerns about the rapid spread of the Omicron strain of the Covid-19 virus, President of Latvia Egils Levits calls on residents to refrain from gathering over the holiday period, Latvian Television reported December 22.

december 22, 2021, 9:21

december 21, 2021, 12:24 21.12.21

Estonia sells Rīga embassy building

The building that has housed the Estonian embassy in Latvia since 1919 has been sold at auction, reports ERR News.

december 21, 2021, 12:24

december 18, 2021, 13:52 18.12.21

Foreign Ministry: non-compliance with Belarus sanctions "undermines international reputation"

Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed concern December 17 about compliance with international sanctions against the Lukashenko regime in Belarus.

december 18, 2021, 13:52

december 14, 2021, 12:07 14.12.21

Latvia has new Ambassador to Canada

On December 14, 2021, in an official ceremony in Riga Castle, the President of Latvia Egils Levits presented credentials to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Canada, Kaspars Ozoliņš.

december 14, 2021, 12:07

december 13, 2021, 13:18 13.12.21

Re:Baltica names Latvia's main Covid-19 disinformation sources

The Baltic Center for Investigative Jourrnalism, Re:Baltica, has a new report in English examining the people responsible for the spread of inaccurate, misleading or plain weird dis- and misinformation about the Covid-19 pandemic, whether for ideological, egomaniacal or other reasons.

december 13, 2021, 13:18

december 13, 2021, 12:07 13.12.21

Party ratings show half of Latvian electorate up for grabs

According to the latest SKDS political polls produced for Latvian Television, the New Unity (JV) party saw the largest increase in support in November, with its support among voters climbing 1.4%.

december 13, 2021, 12:07

december 12, 2021, 11:22 12.12.21

Latvia critical of Belgian plans to relocate war memorial

According to a release by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 10 December 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, sent a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of the Kingdom of Belgium, Sophie Wilmès, "expressing concerns about developments in Zedelgem in relation to the 'Latvian Beehive for Freedom' monument and asking that the Minister follow the matter closely."

december 12, 2021, 11:22