Latvian Political Monitor

Currently intensive work is underway to streamline the procurement system in Latvia, reducing state spending in the long term, preventing corruption opportunities, and also reducing bureaucracy. It is not normal if buying the needed item simply by going to a store turns out to be more advantageous than conducting a procurement.

As they say, you'll be remembered for the rules you broke, not for the good work done. I'm not anyone's lawyer here, but there are connections in the Ogre and Valmiera scandals. Both cities thrive while others languish. I'd love to hear other opinions on this. https://t.co/F4rDD0YEZy

📍It is unclear why there is political opposition to transferring supervision of non-bank lenders to @LatvijasBanka; 📍Without changing the existing municipal financial equalization model, many municipalities will be in an unenviable situation https://t.co/AM0WrgEdMs via @YouTube

@IvarsAuzins @AlvisHermanis1 Exactly, Ivar! In the declaration you can only submit 600 EUR/year per child for justified expenses. This sum should be increased x2 as a minimum. That would be a great relief for parents with children.

@AlvisHermanis1 Alvi, I agree with you that demographics is a catastrophe. Rule change can also be called a change of priorities. Tangible funding goes to NGOs whose goals are to promote birth rates, not to associations that drag in a bunch of illegal immigrants.

A week in which society learned about the heavy legacy left by the previous period, the mirror of which is the new @Finmin macroeconomic forecasts. Currently, a lot of work must be invested so that Latvian society does not have huge problems in the future… https://t.co/tXKmu9Rzwp

How are financial resources managed in Latvia, what is the progress in this area, and what still needs to be done, and, of course, how is the treasury filling up, where are funds taken for security, education, healthcare… Regular work together with the State Treasury manager Kaspars Āboliņš. https://t.co/6saMu7ZTKf

Interesting and valuable conversation about EU structural funds and their planning for the next period, as well as the municipal funding equalization system and other important issues with former colleagues – representatives of @LLPAsoc. https://t.co/KlFpmeYrMc

From today, July 10, a new procedure for compensating losses caused by military incidents comes into force! ✅

It is important to put the procurement system in order, making it transparent, reducing expenses in the long term. I met with @RTU_LV prorector @Arturs_Zeps and professor @AgrisNikitenko, who have done a great job to effectively use artificial intelligence solutions in procurement evaluation https://t.co/0JBDynEvP3

To discuss issues related to the upcoming changes in the municipal funding equalization system, as well as EU structural funds for the next period, a valuable meeting with the mayors of @LatgalesRegions in Lūznava today. Thank you for your responsiveness and suggestions! https://t.co/T2h0MoJYe1

I continue to listen to entrepreneurs' opinions on important issues. Today a valuable conversation with the organization that unites taxpayers from all over our country - the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

📍Latvia has good EU fund management, but stricter investment prioritization is needed; 📍For projects funded from the state budget, control should be more centralized, today a valuable conversation about this with leading experts from @monetary_imf https://t.co/QCTElVwA9O

Another work week has passed. I continue the report on what has been done in the position of Minister of Finance. https://t.co/PGxwh1PIlM

So that fuel does not become more expensive - the political parties forming the government agreed today at the Cooperation Council meeting that the reduced excise fuel tax rate should continue to be applied until the end of this year.

First working week in the position of Finance Minister...

🏛️ Today in Luxembourg we met in the circle of European Union justice ministers. The most important issue for Latvia was Russia's responsibility for the war in Ukraine. It is in Latvia's interest to ensure that Russia pays for the damage caused to Ukraine, that war criminals are held accountable, and that aggression does not become an acceptable instrument of international relations. That is why work was advanced on establishing a special tribunal and an international compensation mechanism. The goal is simple – that the aggressor cannot evade responsibility. Here, we Baltic ministers urged our colleagues to act much faster. An important issue was the protection of children's rights in Europe. Nowadays families live, work, and move between different countries. Therefore it is important that children's rights are protected regardless of which European country the child is in. Latvia's position is clear – the child's interests must be central in all decisions. Thank you to our Lithuanian colleague who raised the issue of European historical memory. Namely – for Latvia and the Baltics, this is not a theoretical issue. Our countries have experienced occupation, deportations, and propaganda. That is why we defended the need to prevent the distortion of history in Europe and attempts by aggressor states to justify their crimes. Member states also supported the planned Justice program of 798 million euros in the EU's multi-annual budget. This means that we will be able to work with great dedication on creating a digitalized justice system, which will promote judicial cooperation and access to justice for each of us. In short – all these discussions are united by one goal – a safer Latvia 🇱🇻, a stronger Europe 🇪🇺, and clear rules that protect people, not aggressors.

📍State budget expenditures must be reduced, but it will not happen at the expense of services provided to the public; 📍Each new expenditure position in the budget will have to be justified; 📍The creation of the Climate and Energy Ministry was at the time a whim of certain politicians. https://t.co/4asGFFMx3T