The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved amendments extending a reduced excise tax rate on diesel fuel until the end of 2026, LSM reports. The diesel tax was lowered from EUR 467 to EUR 396 per 1,000 litres and for marked diesel fuel used in agriculture from EUR 70 to EUR 21 per 1,000 litres…
The Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade will expand its presence to eastern Latvia, deploying troops in the city of Daugavpils for the first time, LSM reported. Allied forces will be stationed permanently elsewhere in the eastern Latgale region as well, according to the Latvian Defence Ministry’s news portal, Sargs.lv. Also, Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus announced…
Latvia’s central bank, the Bank of Latvia, has lowered its GDP forecast for 2026-2028 markedly, LSM reports. GDP growth will amount to 2.0% in 2026, to 2.4% in 2027, and to 3.0% in 2028, according to the latest forecast. In December 2025, the central bank had projected that the GDP would grow by 2.8% in…
Around 4,000 people attended the 20th annual Riga Pride parade in the Latvian capital, Riga, on 13 June 2026, LSM reported. Police said that the parade in the centre of Riga proceeded peacefully and without significant incidents. Participants noted that Latvian society was becoming more accepting of same-sex couples and diverse sexualities. Kaspars Zalitis, co-chair…
Latvia’s GDP growth will fall from 2.1% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026, before rising to 2.2% in 2027, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts, LSM reports. Average annual inflation will decline from 3.8% in 2025 to 3.6% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, the OECD projects in its latest survey of…
Latvia has entered the official election campaign period ahead of the parliamentary elections on 3 October 2026, LSM reports. During the 120-day period, campaigners, media, and other involved parties must comply with strict rules on election campaigning, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) noted. KNAB will monitor the use of campaign funds and the…
The prime ministers of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries announced that the group would cooperate with Ukraine on military expertise and training, information sharing, and the development of their defence industries and technology, ERR reports. Joining the summit meeting in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine was ready to supply…
Latvia’s foreign trade turnover totalled EUR 15.01bn at current prices in the first four months of 2026, which was up EUR 589.1mn (4.1%) from the same period of 2025, according to the Central Statistical Bureau’s (CSP) provisional data, LSM reported. The total value of goods exports amounted to EUR 6.94bn (up 2.2%) and imports to…
Average consumer prices in Latvia rose by 3.5% on year in May 2026, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reported. The rise in annual inflation was mainly influenced by the increase in transport fuel prices (up 28.2%) and housing-related energy costs (up 5.8%). At the same time, prices for food and…
