German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid a working visit to Latvia on 8 July 2025, LSM reported. He held talks with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Prime Minister Evika Silina. Steinmeier highlighted Germany’s special connection and historical and cultural ties with Latvia. Speaking about bilateral cooperation on security policy, he noted that Latvia was beginning to…
The Latvian government may have to take additional austerity measures to implement the ruling coalition’s policy priorities, Prime Minister Evika Silina stated, LETA reports. Earlier, ministries submitted proposals to cut altogether EUR 150mn in public sector spending in 2026. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Silina said that the sum might not be enough to…
Latvian ministries have submitted 250 proposals for spending cuts, Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens announced, LSM reports. Ministries have suggested cuts in remuneration, subsidies, goods and services, and other expenditure. The proposals would reduce public sector spending by EUR 150mn in 2026, the Finance Ministry estimated. The ministry targets cumulative spending cuts of up to EUR…
The leaders of the three Baltic States held a video conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the war in Ukraine and European security on 2 March 2025, ERR reports. Starmer apologised for not inviting the Baltic States to a summit of European leaders in London, LRT reported. Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics plans to propose lowering the threshold for holding public referendums on legislative changes, LSM reports. Rinkevics discussed the issue with Prime Minister Evika Silina and leaders of parliamentary groups, LETA reported. He will invite constitutional experts to join the discussions. Edmunds Jurevics, leader of New Unity’s parliamentary group, and Harijs Rokpelnis,…
The four policy priorities of Latvia’s coalition government in 2025 are “security, support for families, economic growth, and reducing bureaucracy,” Prime Minister Evika Silina announced, LSM reports. She will begin individual meetings with ministers to discuss the priorities, according to LETA. Silina said that national security remained the government’s most pressing priority, highlighting the need…
Latvia will have to raise its defence budget to at least 4% of GDP in the coming years, President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LSM reports. Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina, Rinkevics insisted that the current defence spending of 3.45% of GDP was not enough. He noted that Latvia had “a rather serious problem”…
Parties in Latvia’s coalition government have postponed decisions on possible changes to the management of the country’s national air carrier, airBaltic, LSM reports. Prime Minister Evika Silina said that the government would wait for decisions of airBaltic’s shareholders. She noted that airBaltic was partly privately-owned, and that the government did not manage the company directly….
Parties in Latvia’s coalition government will discuss possible changes to the management of the country’s national air carrier, airBaltic, LSM reports. Earlier, the airline announced that it would cancel nearly 4,700 flights in summer 2025 due to delays in aircraft engine maintenance. The company insisted that the delays were beyond its control. Aviation industry experts…