Latvian capital Riga’s acting mayor, Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity), has invited all political groups in the current ruling coalition in the Riga City Council for talks to form a new coalition on 25 July 2023, LETA reports. Kirsis suggested that the talks could be held either with each political group individually or with all groups…
Latvia will soon have several new ambassadors, LSM reports. Latvia’s former long-term ambassador to Russia, Maris Riekstins, will become Latvia’s new permanent representative to NATO. Riekstins served in the same post in 2011-2025 as well. Meanwhile, Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes will replace Andrejs Pildegovics as Latvia’s ambassador to the United Nations. Also, Solveiga Silkalna, former adviser to…
Part of a wall of the wastewater treatment plant in the Latvian port city of Liepaja collapsed on 23 July 2023, Baltic News Network reports. The State Environmental Service (VVD) said that around 1,250 m3 of untreated sewage leaked into the environment as a result of the accident, LSM reported. Municipal authorities urged residents to…
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry has repeated its strong recommendation for Latvian citizens not to travel to Belarus and Russia due to the current tense security situation, LSM reports. The ministry warned that travellers may be subjected to provocations. Diana Eglite, press secretary at the Foreign Ministry, urged people to assess risks. In June 2022, a Latvian…
The legal minimum wage in the Baltic States has risen the most in Lithuania over the past ten years, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Lithuania’s minimum wage stood at EUR 840 in July 2023, and has risen by an average of 11.2% per year compared to July 2013. In Estonia, the minimum wage has…
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) has approved 20 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects to the tune of EUR 371.5mn so far in 2023, LSM reports. The projects will create 1,160 new jobs. The investment projects are in sectors such as bioeconomy, ICT, photonics and smart materials, smart energy and mobility, as well…
Latvia’s Economy Minister, Ilze Indriksone, said that the state should not intervene in the food market, LSM reports. Earlier, Agriculture Minister Didzis Smits insisted that market intervention was necessary due to the high food prices. He suggested establishing a special regulator to monitor food prices in shops. Indriksone agreed that Latvia’s large supermarket chains, Maxima…
Latvia should increase the number of defence personnel by at least 1.3 times to around 31,000 in view of the current geopolitical situation, Major General Imants Ziedins of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) stated, LETA reports. He noted that such an increase would not be possible without the compulsory military service. Ziedins said that…
Latvia’s electricity consumption totalled 491 GWh in June 2023, which was the lowest monthly figure since June 2005, according to data from transmission system operator Augstsprieguma Tikls (AST), LSM reports. Electricity consumption declined by 9% over a year and 5% over a month. AST attributed the drop in consumption to the increasing number of microgeneration…