Latvia: Thousands of Latvians register support for Istanbul Convention

Over 7,700 people in Latvia have signed a public petition against withdrawing from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence, LSM reports. Earlier, several parties in the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, signalled that they might vote to revoke Latvia’s ratification of the human rights treaty. The Union of Greens…

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Latvia: Talks on expanding coalition government may continue

Negotiations about possible changes to Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina’s government may resume at the end of summer 2024, with discussions about potentially expanding the coalition, LETA reports. Maris Kucinskis of the opposition United List confirmed the group’s interest in joining the government but only as a unified party. Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze acknowledged informal…

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Latvia: Parliament approves new three-party coalition government

Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has approved a new coalition government led by Evika Silina with 53 votes for and 29 against, LSM reports. The three-party coalition consists of Silina’s centre-right New Unity party, the conservative Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), and the social-democratic Progressives. New Unity’s previous coalition partners, the National Alliance and the…

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Latvia: Defence minister candidate’s statements slammed on social media

Social media users in Latvia have highlighted statements by Andris Spruds, potential candidate for minister of defence, about the Latvian state and Russian-occupied Crimea, Baltic News Network reports. Speaking in an interview on the Russian-language radio station, Radio Baltkom, in January 2013, Spruds contested the legal continuity of the Latvian republic. Also, he asserted that…

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Latvia: New coalition government could be approved next week

Latvia’s prime minister-designate, Evika Silina, expects the parliament, the Saeima, to approve her new coalition government on 15 September 2023, LSM reports. Besides the post of prime minister, Silina’s New Unity party is likely to head the ministries of finance, economy, foreign affairs, interior affairs, justice, education, and energy. The Union of Greens and Farmers…

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Latvia: New Unity to form new government with ZZS, Progressives

Latvia’s New Unity will form a new coalition government with the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and the Progressives, New Unity’s prime minister candidate, Evika Silina, announced, LSM reports. Silina said that the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, could possibly vote on endorsing the new government on 15 September 2023. The new coalition would have…

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Latvia: Pres. Rinkevics urges formation of broadest possible coalition government

Latvia’s President, Edgars Rinkevics, met with representatives of the United List alliance to discuss the formation of a new coalition government, LETA reports. He said that forming a government with the broadest possible parliamentary majority was still possible. Earlier, United List refused an invitation from prime minister-designate Evika Silina to form a four-party coalition government…

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