The Latvian government has postponed reviewing Welfare Minister Evika Silina’s (New Unity) proposed draft bill on the ratification of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence, LETA reports. One of the parties in the coalition government, United List, wanted to introduce additions to the draft bill. United List’s parliamentary…
Latvia’s new president, Edgars Rinkevics, has appointed his chief policy advisers and aides, LSM reports. Gunda Reire, parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will become head of the presidential chancellery. The president’s chief legal adviser is Kristine Licis, who has served as Latvia’s representative in international institutions. Edvins Severs will continue as the…
Latvia’s foreign trade turnover totalled EUR 17.93bn in the first five months of 2023, which was down EUR 718.4mn (3.9%) from the same period of 2022, according to provisional data from the Central Statistical Bureau, LSM reports. Exports totalled EUR 8.12bn, which was down EUR 281.2mn (3.3%) over a year. Imports totalled EUR 9.81bn, which…
Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) does not have information that would indicate that Russia’s private military company, Wagner Group, currently poses a direct threat to Latvia, LETA reports. VDD said that it obtained information on Wagner Group’s activities constantly and continued to assess the risks associated with the mercenary group to both national and regional…
Average consumer prices in Latvia rose by 7.9% in June 2023, compared to the same period of 2022, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau, LSM reports. The annual change in prices was mainly influenced by the rise in the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages and of goods and services related to housing,…
The European Commission has granted EUR 6.8mn of financial support for Latvia’s agricultural sector, LSM reports. Latvia had requested EUR 11mn of EU aid. Agriculture Minister Didzis Smits noted that the support accorded to Latvia was proportionally the largest amount of aid granted. The support is intended for industries negatively impacted by the war in…
Defence ministers of the three Baltic States signed a declaration on joint defence of their airspace on the first day of the NATO summit in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, on 11 July 2023, LSM reports. According to the declaration, the Baltic States plan to strengthen cooperation in air defence. Also, the three countries will ensure that…
Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, carried a total of 1.911 million passengers in the first half of 2023, which was up 51.7% from 1.312 million in the same period of 2022, LETA reports. The number of flights performed totalled 20,290, which was up 19.9% from 16,920 a year earlier. CEO Martin Gauss attributed the increase…
Latvia’s new president, Edgars Rinkevics, addressed the participants of the closing ceremony of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Riga on 9 July 2023, LSM reports. Speaking to the “wise, capable, and tenacious Latvian people,” Rinkevics noted that the festival has allowed people from all across Latvia to reaffirm each generation’s loyalty to their…