Lithuania: Social Democrats leader to become PM
The chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), Mindaugas Sinkevicius, confirmed that he…
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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: 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…
Estonia: Government to screen emails from Russia
Government agencies in Estonia will block electronic messages sent from Russian servers as of 31 August 2026, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta announced, ERR reports. She said that emails sent to Estonian public servants or government institutions from addresses ending in .ru will be quarantined for security reasons. Such messages will have…
Latvia: 4,000 take part in Riga Pride parade
Around 4,000 people attended the 20th annual Riga Pride parade in the Latvian capital, Riga, on 13 June 2026, LSM reported. Police said that the parade in the centre of Riga proceeded peacefully and without significant incidents. Participants noted that Latvian society was becoming more accepting of same-sex couples and diverse sexualities. Kaspars Zalitis, co-chair…
Lithuania: New coalition agrees on programme, ministerial posts
Three parties in Lithuania have agreed on a coalition programme and the number of ministerial posts in a new incoming government, LRT and ELTA reported. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) will have nine ministers, while the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) will have three and the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens…
Lithuania: President signs public broadcaster law
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has signed into law amendments to legislation governing the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. The changes will create a new board of directors for LRT, expand the company’s governing council, and establish fixed terms for council members and increase their powers. Also, the amendments will…
Latvia: GDP to grow 1.9% in 2026, 2.2% in 2027: OECD
Latvia’s GDP growth will fall from 2.1% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026, before rising to 2.2% in 2027, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts, LSM reports. Average annual inflation will decline from 3.8% in 2025 to 3.6% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, the OECD projects in its latest survey of…
Estonia: Fewer marriages, more divorces in 2025
The number of marriages registered in Estonia totalled 5,998 in 2025, which was 363 fewer than in 2024, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reported. The number of new marriages was the lowest since 2012. The first-marriage rate was 0.45 for men and 0.52 for women. The average age at first marriage was 31.8…