Lithuania: New coalition agreement signed
Three political groups in the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, have signed an agreement on a…
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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:…
Lithuania: New coalition agreement signed
Three political groups in the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, have signed an agreement on a new coalition government, BNS reports. The new ruling coalition will include the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), the Union of Democrats for Lithuania, and the joint parliamentary group of the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens and the Electoral Action…
Latvia: NATO deploys troops to eastern Latvia
The Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade will expand its presence to eastern Latvia, deploying troops in the city of Daugavpils for the first time, LSM reported. Allied forces will be stationed permanently elsewhere in the eastern Latgale region as well, according to the Latvian Defence Ministry’s news portal, Sargs.lv. Also, Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus announced…
Estonia: Conservative leader top choice for PM
Estonia’s most popular choice for prime minister is Urmas Reinsalu, chairman of the national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland, according to a new Norstat poll for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reports. In the survey, 27% of respondents preferred Reinsalu for prime minister in June 2026, followed by Mihhail Kõlvart, chairman of the opposition Estonian…
Lithuania: New coalition to sign agreement on government
Three parliamentary groups in Lithuania will sign an agreement on forming a new coalition government on 18 June 2026, BNS reports. The coalition will consist of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL), and the joint parliamentary group of the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens (LVZS) and…
Latvia: PM proposes “scaling down” Rail Baltica
Latvia’s new prime minister, Andris Kulbergs, suggested “scaling down” the Rail Baltica railway project, ERR reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Tallinn, Kulbergs said that he was looking at a potential solution to the project’s funding gap that would be “out of the box.” He said that…
Estonia: Parliament sets date for presidential election
The Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, will convene for an extraordinary session on 2 September 2026 to elect the country’s next president, ERR reports. The only candidate named so far is former interior minister Mart Helme, who was nominated by the opposition Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE). Incumbent President Alar Karis has not yet announced…
Lithuania: Social Democrats leader to become PM
The chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), Mindaugas Sinkevicius, confirmed that he would assume the post of prime minister in a new coalition government, ELTA reports. He will replace incumbent Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who was appointed in August 2025. Currently, Sinkevicius serves as the mayor of the Jonava district municipality. He…
Latvia: Central bank cuts GDP forecast for 2026-2028
Latvia’s central bank, the Bank of Latvia, has lowered its GDP forecast for 2026-2028 markedly, LSM reports. GDP growth will amount to 2.0% in 2026, to 2.4% in 2027, and to 3.0% in 2028, according to the latest forecast. In December 2025, the central bank had projected that the GDP would grow by 2.8% in…
Estonia: Central bank lowers GDP forecast for 2026-2028
Estonia’s GDP growth will reach 2.4% in 2026 and remain close to 2.5% in 2027 and 2028, according to the Bank of Estonia’s latest forecast, ERR reports. In March 2026, the central bank had projected annual GDP growth of around 2.8%. Strong fiscal stimulus will boost economic growth in 2026, with increased household and public…