Update 20:42
Politics
Excessive bureaucracy in Latvia is a problem, and the government will work purposefully to reduce the bureaucratic burden in the country, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) promised on Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" program April 24.
In Latvia, the main audit authority – State Audit Office – carries out annual inspections of all main public institutions, including the State Chancellery. One of the loudest scandals in Latvian politics in recent months has been linked to the State Chancellery – the special flights of former PM Krišjānis Kariņš. Why did the State Audit Office not reveal these violations before? Latvian Television asked the question on April 18.
A strong majority of Latvian citizens say they intend to vote in upcoming European Parliament elections, according to a survey carried out by Eurobarometer – the results of which are surprising given voters' actual track record in previous ballots.
Latvia's foreign minister candidate, diplomat Baiba Braže, said in an interview with Latvian Radio's "Labrīt/Good Morning" program on April 18 that she is still thinking about whether to join the New Unity political force.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on April 17 signalled his support for Baiba Braže to become Latvia's next Minister of Foreign Affairs in a Saeima vote scheduled for Friday.
On Tuesday, April 16, Latvian Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens met with Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko at the annual World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meeting in Washington, according to a release from the Finance Ministry.
The opposition National Alliance, which was in charge of the Ministry of Culture for several years, will demand the resignation of the current Minister of Culture, Agnese Logina (Progressives), former Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) said on Latvian Radio Wednesday, April 17.
The New Unity political force has nominated diplomat Baiba Braže for the post of Foreign Minister, which is vacant after the resignation of Krišjānis Kariņš, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) announced in a briefing on Monday, April 15.
Last week, a lengthy audit of former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš' use of special flights during his time as PM was published. The auditor concluded that hundreds of thousands of euros were both unlawfully and uneconomically used. The possibility to get the money back will be assessed in criminal proceedings, Latvian Television's De Facto reported April 14.
On Thursday, April 11, the European Parliament decided not to waive parliamentary immunity for MEPs Nils Ušakovs (Harmony) and Andris Ameriks (Honor to serve Riga). Latvia requested this in the case of alleged bribery and abuse of office.
The political party Latvijas attīstībai (Latvia's Development) finds itself at the center of a scandal April 11, with journalists claiming it used illegal methods to fund itself.
On Wednesday, April 10, the European Parliament (EP) sanctioned MP Tatjana Ždanoka of the Latvian Russian Union party for violating the European Parliament's code of conduct, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
Former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) had his final day as foreign minister on Wednesday, April 10. He would comment on the findings of the State Audit Office when he was familiar with the audit report, Latvian Television reported.
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) has ordered the suspension of the Director of the State Chancellery Jānis Citskovskis, according to a statement on April 10.
In an audit of the special flights of former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity), the State Audit Office has concluded that at least 221,566 euros were unlawfully spent from the state budget, while at least 323,688 euros from the European Union (EU) Council funds were used uneconomically, the Audit Office (Valsts kontrole, VK) said on Wednesday.
On April 9, 2024, the Latvian Cabinet decided at its weekly meeting to support the signing of an Agreement between Latvia and Ukraine on Long-Term Support and Security Commitments.
The State Audit Office has detected both unlawful and uneconomical actions in the special flights of former Prime Minister, departing Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, Auditor General Edgars Korčagins told Latvian Radio on April 10 morning.
The European Parliament (EP) Committee on Legal Affairs has recommended not lifting the parliamentary immunity of MEPs Nils Ušakovs (Harmony) and Andris Ameriks (Honor to Serve Riga), but the EP vote is still pending, Latvian Television's correspondent in Brussels Ilze Nagla reports.
Latvia is unlikely to get a new foreign minister this week, Latvian Radio reports April 8.
With two months to go until European Parliamentary elections take place, the right-of-center National Alliance continues to lead the way in the latest political poll conducted by SKDS for Latvian Television.
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has referred a case to the prosecutor's office in which it obtained evidence that the former Rēzekne Mayor, Aleksandrs Bartaševičs, disclosed restricted information to a family member and failed declare a large loan, KNAB said in a press release April 5.
With two months to go until 2024 elections for the European Parliament take place on June 8 in Latvia (and June 6-9 across Europe as a whole), Eurostat has asked the National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States for a dedicated data collection on the number of people eligible to vote.
The current Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere (New Unity) could be nominated for the post of the vacant Foreign Minister, according to unofficial information available to Latvian Television (LTV).
The Constitutional Court said on April 4 that it had deemed the restriction on the organization of gambling throughout Rīga unconstitutional, as the municipality has not justified why gambling is prohibited in the specific areas.
Jelgava Municipality Council Chairman Madars Lasmanis has announced his resignation as mayor, Lasmanis said in a release to the media on April 3. Lasmanis makes the move a week and a half after an ambiguous video of the council leader was leaked to the public.
The New Unity political force does not yet have one specific candidate for the post of Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said in an interview on Latvian Television's “Morning Panorama” on April 3.
The government could decide on the dismissal of Rēzekne City Council this month, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Inga Bērziņa (New Unity) said on Tuesday, April 2.
Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņs, announced his resignation March 28 following a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa.
Several deputies were ready to vote on the suspension of the Jelgava Regional Council chairman on Wednesday, March 27, and submitted a motion to the Council to add the issue of the suspension of Mayor Madars Lasmanis to the agenda of Wednesday's meeting. Other Members disagreed and rejected the proposal.
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa is in Germany Wednesday, March 27 on a working visit which includes a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
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