Latvian Political Monitor

@Gaumigais_joks I think that concrete pouring should be stopped, but instead people should be motivated. With a fishing rod, not a benefit.

Deficit and national debt. Right now the noose is tightening around the world, and there is no end in sight: the USA, Europe, Japan. Everywhere. The 10-year US debt yield has reached almost 5%, a level not seen in 19 years. Japan is at 3%, not seen that high in 30 years. Germany is around 3.5%, not that high since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, budget deficits (the reason for borrowing) have in many places left the controllable zone. Inflation is no longer the 'desired' 2%, but 3–4%. And there is still no end in sight, and economists promise none. In Latvia, everything is just quiet. Mainly because intellect lags behind; in the public sphere you only hear that all it takes is to fire some officials and the budget will balance. You don't even realize how decisive turns must be made to cover just a small part of the deficit. I know the numbers, they make your eyes water.

✔️ Preparation for the next EU funds planning period; ✔️ Potential change to the municipal financial equalization system. On these and other important issues, a valuable conversation with Liepāja city council leadership, heads of structural units, and experts. #municipalities #Kurzeme #Liepāja https://t.co/8EUKvhAdTS

@mansviedoklis1 @AndrisKulbergs @ivchix The Prime Minister got confused, humanly forgivable, given the workload that most of us could hardly handle. Including me. But politics is an arena for mockery, it comes with the office, so now go ahead and sneer😏

@nezinu46 @AndrisKulbergs @ivchix In the ministries work about 3500 people, more precisely 3700. The salary budget is around 140 million per year, average gross salary 2.5k.

Although the FM working group has not yet issued any negative opinion on the planned state administration ICT procurements, as a result of its work, expenses of 21.2 million euros have already been prevented. Upon receiving the working group's information requests, some applications for permission to conduct procurements have been withdrawn https://t.co/18cEN9QPTn

To clarify. The 1.9 billion is the compensation amount that includes defense (soldiers, national guards), as well as internal affairs (police, border guard, State Fire and Rescue Service), justice, and part of health (e.g., Emergency Medical Service). About 60% of this amount goes to security and order sectors, not to bureaucrats in offices. There are about 12 thousand bureaucrats.

@ivchix Actually, I said that the entire state apparatus, 3500 employees together, costs €2 billion, not savings, pointing out that it is not a large sum compared to state procurement and other cost items.

They already know how to write documents. I mean anywhere, in all countries. In Latvia, central government expenditures are below the OECD average relative to GDP, but together (general government, including municipalities) - above. There one can and will always strive for improvements, but not some grandiose ones, in billions. That is a myth.

@Astridamains That's very healthy, to look at it. The treasury shows the cash flow, the same can be seen on the budget side. When this is shown to the big cutters, it quickly breaks off. All so far. Thousands of positions from which you cannot linearly shorten any billions.

The research post I quoted below was from February. Today's news about PISA measurements shows that the majority of young people (59%) can no longer read. So also write. Can tick that off. Illiteracy is a reality. For context, a few facts. First - @IZM_gov_lv spends a hundred million a month. A hundred. Million. A month. Euros. Second. Everything is supposedly fine. Third. The ministry is a priority. When asked to save funds 'like everyone else', they refused already last year. Refused again this year. Came decisively to complain. And now they ask for at least 50 million more next year. I have a question, @IIndriksone. Not a reproach. What should be done with such people, if without politics and honestly?

Profit is not brought only by the so-called universal service, well there postal delivery in far forests etc. But providing such a service is required by an EU directive. In any case, it must be subsidized by the state and it does so. In Estonia, for example, it affects about 5% of postal deliveries. Every year money must be given to the so-called delegated function. That in no way requires private or state ownership.

@Astridamains @janastrogonova @juris_muris @J_Hermanis That is also true.

Remember Vineta Kutkeviča, former member of the Rīgas siltums council. Kulbergs' investigative committee found that her husband's company has been very successful in RS procurement and she left her post… to end up on the RAKUS council. @AndrisKulbergs when will this nightmare actually end?

@andrievs @realNepareizais Direct. There aren't many budget choices. All choices are to reduce (any) priority.

By the way, a decent debate. Surprised. Outside pre-election populism. I recommend. https://t.co/X94tUXGsBj

@JanizBerzins @realNepareizais We technically can no longer sponsor AB. Even though it would be more advantageous than RS. And more unfair. If you don't understand that, I'm putting an end to it.

@realNepareizais That's nice, but the budget doesn't have that option. Unless you cut, for example, health, education, or pensions.