Defects in new electric trains of Latvia’s state-owned carrier, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), disrupted the daily commute of hundreds of passengers in the first week of 2024, LSM reported. The technical problems resulted in running cancellations and delays of many departures. Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens assured that most of the defects were “relatively trivial.” However, some…
Latvia’s registered unemployment level stood at 5.7% of the economically active population at the end of 2023, which was down from 6.1% at the end of 2022, according to data from the State Employment Agency (NVA), LETA reported. The number of registered unemployed totalled 50,344 at the end of 2023, which was down from 53,536…
Latvia will gradually assume responsibility for NATO’s Baltic air policing mission due to ongoing repairs at the Estonian Air Force base in Ämari, LETA reports. The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) air base in Lielvarde will host the mission for nine months from 1 March 2024. This is the first time that the mission rotation…
More than a third of Latvian residents believe that 2024 will be financially better for them than 2023, according to a Norstat poll for Luminor Bank, Baltic News Network reports. The survey showed that 38% of residents expect this year to be financially better than last year. Young people aged 18-29 years are particularly optimistic,…
Latvia’s Office of the Prosecutor General has fined the local LPG supplier, Latvijas Propana Gaze (LPG), and its co-owner, Anatolijs Cernihs, for attempted violation of international sanctions, LETA reports. The prosecutor banned LPG from making any transactions with Belarusian companies for one year. The sanctions violation involved iron and steel products. The prosecutor confiscated EUR…
Lithuania’s presidential campaign is gathering pace, Linas Jegelevicius reports for Baltic News Network. Incumbent president Gitanas Nauseda has the lead in several polls, and he is expected to run for a second term. The ruling Homeland Union has started the process to choose the party’s presidential candidate. Potential names include Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, Defence…
Latvia’s Ministry of Finance plans to submit draft laws on the state budget for 2024 and budget plans for 2024-2026 to the parliament, the Saeima, on 3 November 2023, LETA reports. The government will discuss the budget at its next meeting. The new coalition government’s declaration pledges to carry out a “balanced social, environmental, and…
Latvia’s New Unity, Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), and Progressives have agreed on the distribution of seats in their new coalition government, LETA reports. New Unity will have eight, ZZS will have five, and the Progressives will have three seats in the new cabinet. The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, is due to approve the…
Social media users in Latvia have highlighted statements by Andris Spruds, potential candidate for minister of defence, about the Latvian state and Russian-occupied Crimea, Baltic News Network reports. Speaking in an interview on the Russian-language radio station, Radio Baltkom, in January 2013, Spruds contested the legal continuity of the Latvian republic. Also, he asserted that…