The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved a new four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List, LSM reports. Altogether 66 MPs voted for and 25 against the new right-of-centre government. Besides the United List, the new ruling coalition includes the National Alliance, New Unity, and the Union of Greens…
Estonia’s GDP totalled EUR 10.2bn at current prices in the first quarter of 2026, which was up 2.4% from the same period of 2025, according to Statistics Estonia, ERR reported. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of GDP growth and the first time that economic growth exceeded 2% since the first quarter of 2022. Value…
The number of unemployed people in Latvia totalled 66,400 in the first quarter of 2026, which was 3,100 (4.5%) fewer than in the same period of 2025, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP) reported. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of unemployed rose by 2,600 (4.0%), however. The country’s unemployment rate stood at…
Estonia’s Finance Minister, Jürgen Ligi, vowed to defend budget discipline and push back against populist spending proposals ahead of the parliamentary elections in March 2027, ERR reported. Ligi said that the country’s political culture had deteriorated badly, and acknowledged that populism had crept into his own Estonian Reform Party as well. He insisted on the…
Latvia’s prime minister nominee, MP Andris Kulbergs of the opposition party alliance, United List, has announced the composition of his incoming four-party coalition government, LSM reports. The Kulbergs cabinet would have 14 male and just 2 female ministers. The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, will vote on approving the government on 28 May 2026. Besides Kulbergs…
Four political groups in Latvia have agreed on the programme of a new coalition government and the distribution of ministerial portfolios, LSM reports. The United List’s MP, Andris Kulbergs, will serve as prime minister, and the party alliance will also hold the posts of ministers of finance, justice, and regional development. Outgoing Prime Minister Evika…
The wealth of Estonian households has increased significantly, while wealth inequality has remained relatively stable over 2013-2024, according to the Bank of Estonia and Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. The household finance and consumption surveys showed that the median household had net wealth of EUR 103,300 in 2024, which was up more than double from EUR…
The Estonian government has approved a new climate law, sending the draft bill to the country’s parliament, the Riigikogu, for consideration, ERR reports. The legislation establishes general greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2030, 2035, and 2040. The parliament has already set a goal for climate neutrality by 2050. Sector-specific emission reduction targets are included…
Four political groups in Latvia have signed an agreement on tasks and working principles for a new coalition government, LETA reports. The new coalition would consist of the opposition United List and National Alliance as well as current coalition partners New Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS). United List’s Andris Kulbergs would…
