Latvia: Pres. Rinkevics holds inauguration speech in parliament

Latvia’s new president, Edgars Rinkevics, held his inauguration speech in the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, outlining his vision of a “strong, modern, just, and safe” Latvia, on 8 July 2023, LSM reports. The President noted that Latvia was one, yet not homogenous, and stressed that the rights of every person must be protected. Latvia’s biggest…

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Baltic: Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish leaders warn of threats from Belarus

The presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland — Egils Levits, Gitanas Nauseda, and Andrzej Duda — have sent a joint letter to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of NATO member states to warn them of the threats posed by the developments in Belarus, BNS reports. In the letter, the three presidents pointed out…

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Latvia: PM Karins to act as foreign minister temporarily

Latvia’s Prime Minister, Krisjanis Karins, will temporarily serve as acting foreign minister after current foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics is sworn in as the country’s new president, LSM reports. Karins will perform the duties of foreign minister until the parliament, the Saeima, approves the appointment of a new foreign minister. Rinkevics will be sworn in as…

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Lithuania: Everyone has right to “civilised relations”: Pres. Nauseda

Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nauseda, said that everyone has the right to "civilised relations," commenting on the Vilnius Pride march on 1 July 2023, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Nauseda expressed confidence that Lithuania would solve problems related to the question of civil partnerships. He argued that there was no reason to clash…

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