Baltic: Income inequality higher in Latvia, Lithuania
Income inequality in Latvia and Lithuania was among the highest in the EU in 2025,…
Read Less, Know More
Welcome to Via Baltica, your “information superhighway” for news from the three Baltic tigers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania! Our founder and editor-in-chief is Kerkko Paananen, senior news analyst with more than two decades of professional expertise in covering and reporting on current affairs in the Baltic States. We aim to do one thing well:…
Baltic: Income inequality higher in Latvia, Lithuania
Income inequality in Latvia and Lithuania was among the highest in the EU in 2025, according to Eurostat data, LSM reported. Latvia’s Gini coefficient, which measures wealth distribution, stood at 35.6, which was up from 34.2 in 2024 and the second-highest in the entire EU. Lithuania’s Gini coefficient was the EU’s third-highest at 35.5 in…
Lithuania: Government halves bus, train ticket prices
The Lithuanian government has introduced a 50% discount on domestic train tickets and will introduce a similar discount on intercity bus fares until the end of 2026, BNS reports. The purpose is to encourage the use of public transport amid the rise in fuel prices. Transport Minister Juras Taminskas said that the additional discount would…
Latvia: Parliament rules on public broadcaster brand
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has passed urgent amendments to the law regulating the Latvian Public Service Media (LSM), LSM reports. Under the changes, LSM will be required to retain the historical names of its radio and TV channels, Latvijas Radio and Latvijas Televizija (LTV). Also, Latvijas Radio’s and LTV’s news services will have to…
Estonia: Foreign ministry top official to run for PM
The secretary general of the Estonian Foreign Ministry, Jonatan Vseviov, announced that he would resign and run for parliament in elections due in March 2027, ERR reports. Vseviov will represent the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDE). SDE chairman Lauri Läänemets will propose that Vseviov be nominated as the party’s candidate for prime minister. Läänemets will…
Lithuania: Vilnius mayor to seek second term
The incumbent mayor of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Valdas Benkunskas, will seek a second term in office in the municipal elections due to be held in March 2027, BNS reports. If re-elected, he said that his priorities would include renovating residential courtyards and expanding transport infrastructure. Benkunskas, who is a member of the conservative Homeland…
Latvia: Finance Minister urges austerity measures
Latvia’s state budget for 2027 will implement a policy of austerity, control, and reform, Finance Minister Maris Kucinskis announced, LSM reports. Speaking in an interview with Latvijas Radio, Kucinskis said that the government would freeze budget spending and public sector wages. At the same time, the government did not intend to raise taxes in 2027,…
Estonia: Centre Party, Social Democrats overtake Fatherland: poll
Estonia’s opposition Estonian Centre Party and Social Democratic Party (SDE) overtook the national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland, in Emor’s latest monthly poll in October 2026, ERR reports. Support for the Centre Party rose to 20.6%, which was up from 16.9% in September 2026. SDE came in second with 20.4% (17.4%), followed by Fatherland with 19.4% (24.1%),…
Baltic: Packaging recycling rate near EU average in 2024
The recycling rate for packaging waste in the Baltic States was highest in Estonia in 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reported. The recycling rate stood at 69.9% in Estonia, which was up from 68.5% in 2023. The rate was 66.9% (60.7%) in Lithuania and 66.3% (63.1%) in Latvia. The average rate in the EU…
Lithuania: Ex-president’s health improving after surgery
The health of Lithuania’s former president, Valdas Adamkus, is improving after surgery, ELTA reports. However, he will remain under medical supervision at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics. Adamkus was hospitalised on 26 September 2026 after experiencing a sudden health problem, BNS reported. Adamkus, who will turn 100 years old on 3 November 2026, served as…