Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) has proposed a reshuffle of key ministerial posts in his three-party coalition government, LETA reports. Karins proposed that National Alliance MP Rihards Kols become foreign minister and that the United List take over the Ministry of Economy and New Unity the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development….
Latvia’s ruling New Unity party retained its lead in opinion polls in July 2023, according to the latest SKDS survey, LSM reports. New Unity had the support of 12.6% of respondents, which was up from 11.5% in June 2023. The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) came in second with 8.0% support (7.5%), followed by…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called for a review of existing electricity distribution tariffs, LSM reports. Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, Rinkevics said that the behaviour of the market regulator, the Public Utilities Commission (SPRK), was “unacceptable.” He insisted that the increase in electricity tariffs was “disproportionate.” The new tariffs came into…
Estonia should prioritise trade with free democratic societies, where the political risk is smallest, Estonian MEP Urmas Paet (Reform/Renew Europe), deputy chairman of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, argues. Writing in an opinion piece for ERR, Paet criticised Estonia’s state-run export promotion agency, Enterprise Estonia, for advocating closer economic ties with Vietnam, which has…
The chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments — Marko Mihkelson from Estonia, Rihards Kols from Latvia, and Zygimantas Pavilionis from Lithuania — will pay a joint visit to Taiwan, ERR reports. They will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Legislative Yuan president You Si-kun, Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen, Foreign Minister Joseph…
Estonian media reported that the Office of the President has made the promulgation of legislation passed by the parliament, the Riigikogu, contingent on the government agreeing to allocate additional funding, ERR reports. An anonymous minister told Postimees that Peep Jahilo, head of the Office of the President, requested an additional EUR 360,000 of funding from government…
The director general of Latvia’s State Revenue Service (VID), Ieva Jaunzeme, has informed the Ministry of Finance that she will not seek another term in office, LETA reports. Jaunzeme will continue to serve as head of VID until the end of her term on 12 February 2024, provided that VID manages to complete tasks set…
Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Ingrida Simonyte, expressed confidence in Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, BNS reports. Earlier, Anusauskas was criticised by President Gitanas Nauseda and other politicians for allegedly disclosing restricted information about the purchase of tanks for the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Simonyte insisted that Anusauskas had not disclosed classified information but conceded that the minister should…
Lithuania’s opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS) has nominated MP Aurelijus Veryga as the party’s candidate for president, BNS reports. Veryga served as adviser to Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius in 2009-2012 and as health minister in 2016-2020, including during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Veryga joined LVZS in 2018. Lithuania will hold presidential…