https://eng.lsm.lv/ eng.lsm.lv en https://eng.lsm.lv//assets/logo/lsm_hi.png https://eng.lsm.lv/ https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/16.07.2026-rinkevics-latvia-and-lithuanuia-share-a-bond-based-on-bloodline.a655249/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:56:50 GMT 655249 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs continues his two-day visit to Lithuania on July 16th, as previously reported. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/15.07.2026-president-rinkevics-heads-to-lithuania.a654956/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:25:00 GMT 654956 Just a couple of weeks after heading north to visit Estonia, on July 15th President Edgars Rinkēvičs is heading south to visit Latvia's southern neighbour and fellow Baltic state, Lithuania. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/30.06.2026-latvias-president-rinkevics-heading-north-for-estonian-state-visit.a653232/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:28:00 GMT 653232 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs will embark on a three-day visit to northern neighbour Estonia on July 1st.  https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/19.06.2026-former-president-levits-receives-germanys-highest-honour.a652211/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:45:00 GMT 652211 Latvia's former president Egils Levits has been awarded Germany’s highest honour for his decades-long dedication and services to German-Latvian relations. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/03.06.2026-so-far-so-good-says-president-of-new-latvian-governments-first-week.a649948/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:51:00 GMT 649948 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said on June 3rd he was happy with the initial signs from the new four-party coalition government headed by Andris Kulbergs (United List). https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/27.05.2026-us-congressman-don-bacon-receives-latvian-state-award.a648808/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 27 May 2026 14:49:00 GMT 648808 May 27th saw Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs presenting Latvia’s highest state award – the Order of the Three Stars – to Don Bacon, a member of the U.S. Congress House of Representatives and long-time co-chair of the Baltic Caucus. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/20.05.2026-keep-calm-carry-on-examine-algorithms-says-latvian-president.a647989/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 20 May 2026 12:01:13 GMT 647989 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on Wednesday called on the public to stay calm and not rise to Russia's repeated attempts at intimidation. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/19.05.2026-president-rinkevics-visits-preili-in-eastern-latvia.a647728/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 19 May 2026 06:01:01 GMT 647728 Security, demographics, and healthcare—these are the three areas that must be addressed as a priority in the country, said President Edgars Rinkēvičs during a regional visit to Preiļi on Monday, 18th May. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/28.04.2026-latvian-president-at-three-seas-initiative-meeting-in-croatia.a644946/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:06:00 GMT 644946 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is in Dubrovnik, Croatia on April 28th-29th to attend the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative – an economic cooperation platform proposed by the presidents of the region's countries, consisting of 13 European Union countries geographically located between the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas – Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/21.04.2026-president-rinkevics-on-visit-to-azerbaijan.a643626/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:50:00 GMT 643626 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is on an official visit to Azerbaijan from April 21st to April 23rd.  https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/16.04.2026-use-of-vip-lounges-at-airports-just-the-way-it-is-says-latvian-president.a643283/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:50:00 GMT 643283 The travels of top state officials, including the President and Prime Minister, are subject to special security requirements and protocol, which also requires the use of VIP lounges at airports, according to Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, speaking on the Latvian Radio programme "Krustpunktā". https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/15.04.2026-rinkevics-restructuring-of-airbaltic-in-order.a643040/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:55:23 GMT 643040 A restructuring of Latvia's national airline airBaltic should be discussed, President Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Wednesday following a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity). https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/02.04.2026-state-award-recipients-announced.a641466/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:25:56 GMT 641466 Recipients of the latest round of state awards, due to be handed out on May 4th, have been announced. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/01.04.2026-moldovas-president-maia-sandu-visiting-latvia.a640984/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:19:00 GMT 640984 On April 1st, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs will play host to President of Moldova Maia Sandu at Rīga Castle. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/23.03.2026-president-rinkevics-back-to-manual-vote-counting-in-this-years-elections.a640034/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:28:00 GMT 640034 In the upcoming 15th Saeima elections this fall, votes will have to be counted manually, President Edgars Rinkēvičs said in a statement on 23rd March. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/10.03.2026-czech-president-petr-pavel-pays-a-visit-to-latvia.a638175/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:45:00 GMT 638175 On 10th–11th March, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs will play host the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, and First Lady, Eva Pavlova, who are on a state visit to Latvia. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/02.03.2026-president-rinkevics-takes-another-look-at-the-eastern-border.a636934/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:25:00 GMT 636934 President Edgars Rinkēvičs made an inspection trip to Latvia's soggy eastern border on March 2nd. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/27.02.2026-president-rinkevics-wants-to-establish-a-compulsory-level-of-defence-spending.a636764/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:23:26 GMT 636764 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs announced on 27th February that he had signed and submitted to the Presidium of the Saeima a draft law “Amendment to the Law on Financing National Defence”, proposing to enshrine in the Law on Financing National Defence a commitment that, starting from 2027, no less than 5% of the gross domestic product projected for the respective year be allocated to national defence. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/24.02.2026-president-rinkevics-speech-on-the-fourth-anniversary-of-war-in-ukraine.a636078/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:49:00 GMT 636078 Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has been going on for four years now, and it has become clear that the end of the war will be neither quick nor easy, said President Edgars Rinkēvičs in a video address on Tuesday, February 24th, the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/14.02.2026-latvian-president-agrees-with-every-single-word-of-rubios-munich-speech.a634661/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:09:00 GMT 634661 Geopolitical endorsements don't come any more fulsome than the one handed out by Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on February 14th to American Secretary of State Marco Rubio. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/05.02.2026-president-pm-pack-their-bags-for-italy-trips.a632657/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:10:13 GMT 632657 The President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, will get an extended taste of la dolce vita from February 5th to 12th when he will be in Italy. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/19.01.2026-president-rinkevics-departs-for-davos.a630547/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:08:21 GMT 630547 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is out of the country for several days this week to participate in the annual large\-scale geopolitical talking shop that is the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/31.12.2025-president-edgars-rinkevics-new-year-message.a627654/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 31 Dec 2025 21:59:00 GMT 627654 Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Good evening, girls and boys! Good evening, grandmothers and grandfathers! https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/18.12.2025-latvian-president-officially-proclaims-2026-budget.a626920/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:32:05 GMT 626920 President Edgars Rinkēvičs has proclaimed next year's state budget and 46 accompanying laws, according to a statement in the official publication Latvijas Vēstnesis. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/15.12.2025-president-rinkevics-in-paris.a626402/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:04:00 GMT 626402 On December 15th, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is on a working visit to Paris, where he is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, Senate President Gérard Larcher, and National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet to discuss bilateral cooperation, European security and defence, support for Ukraine, and other issues on the European Union agenda. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/11.12.2025-polish-president-pays-a-visit-to-latvia.a625578/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:05:00 GMT 625578 Polish President Karol Nawrocki is in Latvia on a working visit on December 11th, where he will be welcomed Thursday morning at Riga Castle by President Edgars Rinkēvičs. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/10.12.2025-latvian-president-road-toll-tax-law-needs-review.a625752/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:24:59 GMT 625752 Following the adoption of amendments to the Road Use Tax Law in its final reading, several important issues remain that the legislator should reconsider, and therefore a second review of this law is necessary, said President Edgars Rinkēvičs in a post on social media on 9th December. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/04.12.2025-baltic-presidents-meet-in-riga.a625029/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:52:00 GMT 625029 The Presidents of all three Baltic states were in the Latvian capital, Rīga, on December 4th for their annual pre-Christmas meeting. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/04.12.2025-cross-of-recognition-removed-from-dairy-farmer-after-two-years.a625027/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:04:00 GMT 625027 The Chapter of Orders, the body that decides who gets state awards in Latvia, has decided to revoke the Cross of Commendation from Juris Sprukulis, the head of the Vecsiljāņi dairy farm and creator of the 'Ievas siers' cheese brand, because he has been convicted of embezzling European Union (EU) funds, according to a statement by the office of President Edgars Rinkēvičs. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/18.11.2025-latvian-president-edgars-rinkevics-independence-day-speech.a622878/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:34:00 GMT 622878 This is an unofficial translation of speech delivered by President Edgars Rinkēvičs at the Freedom Monument in central Rīga on the evening of November 18th, 2025. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/13.11.2025-rinkevics-main-thing-for-coalition-is-budget-adoption.a622319/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:52:00 GMT 622319 The most important issue for the working coalition to consider is next year's budget, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Latvian Television's programme "Morning Panorama" on 13 November. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/31.10.2025-latvian-president-says-hell-think-about-istanbul-convention-exit-law.a620599/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:37:00 GMT 620599 Latvia's state President, Edgars Rinkēvičs, said on Friday he would consider the decision taken by the Saeima on October 30th to pull Latvia out of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/25.09.2025-watch-president-rinkevics-addresses-the-united-nations.a615771/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:40:36 GMT 615771 On September 24th, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs took his turn among world leaders by addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. His full speech is reproduced below. Unlike the hour-long effort delivered by US President Donald Trump the previous day, President Rinkēvičs was done and dusted in a little over ten minutes. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/17.09.2025-finnish-president-stubb-visits-liepaja-on-wednesday.a614696/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:44:00 GMT 614696 The two-day state visit of Finnish President Alexander Stubb to Latvia continues on September 17th in Latvia's third-largest city, Liepāja. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/16.09.2025-finnish-president-alexander-stubb-on-state-visit-to-latvia.a613434/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:10:00 GMT 613434 On 16–17 September, the President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb are paying a state visit to the Republic of Latvia – though in fact Stubb arrived in Latvia a few days ago to watch Finland's EuroBasket semi-final. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/03.09.2025-latvian-presidents-chancellery-to-freeze-wages.a612846/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 03 Sep 2025 06:53:30 GMT 612846 The budget of the Chancellery of the President of Latvia is to be cut by approximately EUR 380,000 next year, including a pay freeze, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs said on the Latvian Television programme ‘One on One’ on 2 September. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/22.08.2025-latvian-and-estonian-presidents-take-to-two-wheels.a610754/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:15:00 GMT 610754 On August 22nd, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and President of Estonia Alar Karis went on a joint bicycle ride, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first book in Latvian and Estonian. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/21.08.2025-latvias-statehood-award-goes-to-art-historian-imants-lancmanis.a611255/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:37:32 GMT 611255 This year, for contribution to strengthening Latvian culture, the Statehood Award has been awarded to Imants Lancmanis, art historian and long-time head of Rundāle Palace. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/19.08.2025-latvian-president-visits-eastern-border.a610752/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:53:00 GMT 610752 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs travelled to the north-east of the country on August 19th to look at how infrastructure projects are coming along and to talk to various officials who help patrol and secure the border with Latvia's aggressive neighbours, Russia and Belarus. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/16.08.2025-rinkevics-comments-on-trumpputin-meeting.a610557/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Sat, 16 Aug 2025 13:32:00 GMT 610557 Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs gave some comments on August 16th following the meeting in Alaska between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and American President Donald Trump. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/11.08.2025-president-rinkevics-visits-rain-devastated-farms-in-latvia.a609979/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:11:27 GMT 609979 President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs visited rain-devastated farms in Latgale on Monday, 11 August, Latvian Radio reports. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/05.08.2025-israels-president-herzog-on-two-day-visit-to-latvia.a609273/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:38:00 GMT 609273 On August the 5th and 6th, the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog will pay an official visit to Latvia. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/23.07.2025-president-says-latvias-ai-centre-establishment-too-slow.a607797/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:25:49 GMT 607797 The start of the practical operation of the Artificial Intelligence Centre is too slow, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Tuesday at a meeting with the Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development Raimonds Čudars (New Unity). https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/16.07.2025-lawyer-stripped-of-latvian-state-award-over-soviet-era-sentences.a607003/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:47:00 GMT 607003 The Chapter of Orders, the body responsible for handing out state awards in Latvia, has decided to revoke the Cross of Recognition that was awarded to lawyer Uldis Krastiņš, the LETA newswire reports. Krastiņš was awarded the Order of the Cross of Recognition, Fourth Class, on October 13, 2010. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/15.07.2025-president-of-kosovo-pays-a-visit-to-latvia.a606717/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:06:00 GMT 606717 President of Kosovo Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu is in Latvia on July 15th on a working visit. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/08.07.2025-germanys-president-steinmeier-pays-a-visit-to-latvia.a605886/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:11:00 GMT 605886 July 8th sees German head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Latvia for a working visit on Tuesday. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/19.06.2025-president-of-cyprus-pays-a-visit-to-latvia.a603750/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:54:00 GMT 603750 On June 19th, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, is on an official visit to Latvia. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/18.06.2025-president-rinkevics-proposes-revised-data-sharing-law.a603753/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:26:00 GMT 603753 On June 18, President Edgars Rinkēvičs signed and sent to the Presidium of the Saeima a draft law titled “Amendment to the Law on the Structure of State Administration”, proposing changes to the manner in which data held by state and local governments is processed. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/30.04.2025-three-seas-summit-results-in-hungarian-opt-out.a597308/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:21:42 GMT 597308 An international cooperation format dubbed the Three Seas Initiative, of which Latvia is one of the member states, concluded its annual meeting in Warsaw, Poland on April 29 with a joint declaration notable chiefly for the fact that Hungary refused to add its name to the text agreed by everyone else. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/president/31.03.2025-latvian-president-proposes-halving-signature-number-to-initiate-referendum.a593598/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:48:00 GMT 593598 President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs has sent to the Saeima a proposal for changes to the law that would reduce the number of signatures needed to initiate a referendum.