Estonia’s ruling parties have agreed that the Social Democratic Party (SDE) will gain an additional ministerial portfolio in the new three-party coalition, Health Minister Riina Sikkut of SDE announced, ERR reports. At the moment, the Estonian Reform Party has five ministers and the post of prime minister, while SDE and Estonia 200 (E200) have three…
Lithuania’s EU commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius, will step down, having been elected to the European Parliament, BNS reports. He served as European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries since 2019. Sinkevicius has since been elected vice-president of the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament. Saulius Skvernelis, chairman of the opposition Union of Democrats…
The opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) remains the country’s most popular political party ahead of the parliamentary elections due in October 2024, according to a Spinter Tyrimai poll for DELFI in June 2024, ELTA reports. The survey showed that 13.8% of respondents would now vote for LSDP, which is up from 13.2% in…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has confirmed the ruling Homeland Union’s Ingrida Simonyte as prime minister in a vote of confidence, BNS reports. Altogether 69 MPs voted for Simonyte, while 30 voted against and 25 abstained. The prime minister will now have to agree with the president on ministerial appointments. In Lithuania, the government resigns…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has hinted at the possible replacement of a few government ministers, expressing particular dissatisfaction with the performance of the ministers of health and agriculture, BNS reports. Nauseda has had preliminary discussions with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte about the possible changes, emphasising the necessity of action despite the approaching parliamentary elections. The…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved legislation tightening the supervision of virtual currency companies, BNS reports. Under the amendments, crypto asset companies will have to obtain licences from the Bank of Lithuania. The amendments implement the European Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA). Market participants have until June 2025 to be licensed. The central…
A public petition in Latvia is collecting signatures for a ban on the Chinese social media network, TikTok, LSM reports. The author of the initiative, Arturs Babuskins, stated that the social media application was used to “glorify Russian crimes, incite hatred, and divide society.” Moreover, the petition cites data security concerns. Public petitions need at…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has formally proposed that the parliament, the Seimas, denounce the Convention on Cluster Munitions, BNS reports. The Office of the President argued that current international legal restrictions limited Lithuania’s defence capabilities and reduced the effectiveness of deterrence. Lithuania and Norway are the only NATO member states sharing a border with Russia…
The constitutional and finance committees of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, have decided to amend the car tax bill, ERR reports. Earlier, President Alar Karis rejected the bill, arguing that it violated the principle of equal treatment. Constitutional committee chairman Hendrik Johannes Terras and finance committee chairwoman Annely Akkermann said that discussions with various ministries…