Latvia: Agriculture Minister detained, dismissed

Latvia’s outgoing Prime Minister Evika Silina has dismissed Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) after the latter came under criminal investigation for abuse of office, LSM reported. Earlier, Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) briefly detained Krauze and the Agriculture Ministry’s former state secretary, current director of the…

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Estonia: Plan for fourth power cable to Latvia postponed

Estonia’s national transmission system operator, Elering, has postponed plans to build a fourth electricity interconnection with Latvia until after 2038, which was the project’s original completion date, ERR reports. Earlier, Elering postponed a decision on the construction of a third undersea electricity connection to Finland. Reigo Kebja, board member at Elering, said that final investment…

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Latvia: PM resigns, coalition collapses

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned, which means that her coalition government has collapsed, LSM reports. The opposition had planned to initiate a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. President Edgars Rinkevics will now consult parliamentary groups on forming a new government. Edgars Tavars, leader of the opposition United List’s parliamentary group,…

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Latvia: Progressives calls for new government

Latvia’s social-democratic party, the Progressives, has decided to withdraw its support for the country’s current three-party coalition government, Andris Suvajevs, leader of the party’s parliamentary group, announced, LSM reports. The Progressives called on President Edgars Rinkevics to begin immediate consultations on the formation of a new government. Earlier, Prime Minister Evika Silina, leader of the…

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Latvia: Transport Ministry under fire after Rail Baltica report

A report of the Latvian government’s internal review commission on the progress of the Rail Baltica railway project has revealed that the state-owned company, Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas, failed to consult independent experts on important decisions, LETA and LSM reported. The commission report analysed two suspended construction projects on a railway bridge across the Daugava river…

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