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…
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’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…
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…
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’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’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…
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…
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…
