Latvian Political Monitor

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

What is still unclear to anyone?

Hello, thanks. Today in Rēzekne is the National Armed Forces Industry Day. Brataševičs also attended, he wanted to read something from a paper. As I understand, the organizers did not let him near the microphone. 👍

I'll illustrate with the same health issue. We are one of the poorest EU countries. From our small GDP we collect about 34.9% in taxes, which is also a lower percentage than the EU average. Put both together - the total tax money is relatively low, of course. But. That medical equipment costs the same as elsewhere. Salaries? Top doctors earn well, otherwise they'll leave. Nurses - well, they'll also leave with a certain difference, and many do leave. The cost of the service here is cheaper than in rich countries, but not so cheap that we could finance much from the meager tax sum. In any sphere. Education, health included. And the recently added +3% for defense actually empties the room. In the Baltics, 7% of GDP is spent on health, the EU average is 10%. That difference is those 3%. With a poor country, such are the the benefits, the state-paid services. Poor. Want richer and better? It simply won come from public money. This is not about imagined notions of fairness or offense, but about means.

...two-faced friendly dictators https://t.co/Z3RhrcLCOg

#krīviski https://t.co/81b5SJaxCT

Day No. 63 in the prime minister's seat (Friday) — from the first speech in the Saeima, airBaltic to South Korean investments Friday started early — with an interview on LTV's Morning Panorama. 📺☕️ Questions, of course, about the most current topics — CSDD and airBaltic. 35th anniversary of the restoration of Latvia's real independence — celebrations in the Saeima with my first speech to the Saeima parliament and an award at the Presidential Palace to the outstanding Māra Zālīte - I recommend listening to her speech delivered in verse, it was something special. 🚗 CSDD In my opinion, CSDD now needs to come up with concrete solutions to reduce potential risks to citizens after the data leak. ➖️ For example, it should provide the option to change car license plates for free for those who wish. Initially, a few hundred new plates could be created, with old ones handed in and gradually replaced. That's just one possible solution. ➖️ I also believe that every affected person should individually receive an apology letter from CSDD, clearly stating what exactly their data was stolen, what the potential risks are, and where to seek help. ✈️ airBaltic I tried to very clearly explain one thing to TV viewers — it is NOT true that the government will now automatically give airBaltic 30 million euros again. The Saeima has given the government the opportunity to decide whether to lend money to the company together with private investors or not. If the state participates as a lender, then we can continue to sit at the same table where decisions about the company's future are made. No longer as owners or shareholders, but as lenders or bondholders. Because it is no secret — currently the state, as an airBaltic shareholder, has practically no real influence, and the value of our shares has effectively been lost. That's why it's important to at least retain the possibility to be at the table and know what will happen with the company next. 🇰🇷 Later in the day, I met with the Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Park Duk-hyum. The conversation was very practical — not diplomacy for its own sake, but about concrete business, investments, and cooperation. ➖️ We discussed the MiCA regulation and Latvia's potential to become an even more significant financial and crypto-asset hub in Europe. Latvia already has its success stories here. ➖️ We agreed to develop the idea of Ādaži cooperation with a partner city in South Korea. 🇱🇻🤝🇰🇷 ➖️ I told about the advantages and uniqueness of the Sēlija military training ground, as well as Latvia's defense industry opportunities. ➖️ We also talked about Ķekava and specific cooperation opportunities. 💊 I see very good opportunities for Latvia's chemistry and pharmaceutical industry to cooperate with Korean companies in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and components. ⚡️ Particularly interesting — a South Korean company plans investments in a methane production plant and SMR (small modular reactor) technology. Latvia should be active here from the very beginning. And at the end of the conversation, I said a very simple thing: We, politicians, are paid also to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and opportunities. Not only to talk about the economy, but to help create real deals. And it seems we are getting better and better at it. 💪

I can be reproached for some invented incitement of hatred, but I believe that Stepaņi, Bremšmaņi, Čulkovi, etc. are nothing else but supporters and justifiers of these murderers, who should be kept at a distance from any power in our country. https://t.co/f60Co1SEu0

@JSaupelis Very good point.... scary

Completely, all the written points are already implemented and are being addressed in each conversation. Exactly as listed.

There is a misunderstanding and incorrectly spread news/headlines in media = there is no threat to Latgale and no need to declare a state of emergency. It is just an unfortunate wording of the order's title and annotation from the document submitted by KEM @JanisVitenbergs on the TAP portal. The ministry document's text is misleading and ambiguous (it is a mistake, the minister will correct it), but reading it in detail one can clearly understand both its meaning and essence - to introduce a legal framework for action in yellow and orange warning situations. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' address to the public I want to clearly tell the people of Latvia: there is currently no reason for concern. Latvia's level of military threat has not changed. The risk of a direct military invasion threat to Latvia is currently low. This is confirmed by the information available to our security services, and the President of the State has also publicly emphasized this. Yes, we live in a time when Russia's war against Ukraine continues nearby. We must reckon with cyberattacks, sabotage attempts, provocations, drones, and other manifestations of hybrid warfare. That is why state services are operating in a heightened alert mode, we are strengthening the eastern border, and together with NATO allies we are continuously monitoring the situation. However, preparedness for a potential threat is not the same as an immediate threat. These two things must not be confused. Unfortunately, in recent days we see loud statements in the public space about "threats of escalation of Russia's military action" and the declaration of a state of emergency. Such formulations, detached from the actual security situation assessment, understandably raise questions and concern among people. I call on both ministries and politicians to be particularly responsible on this issue. Security is not a tool for pre-election rhetoric. One must not earn political points with people's fears. If any ministry needs a special legal framework to ensure the continuous operation of hospitals, energy supply, water management, or other critical infrastructure in the event of a threat, the government will evaluate such proposals and make necessary decisions. That is our duty. But technical and organizational state preparedness measures should not be presented to the public as if Latvia were on the brink of war. Latvia is a safe country. We are a NATO member state. Allied forces are stationed in Latvia. Our airspace is continuously monitored, the eastern border is being strengthened, and our security services work together with the allies. The government's task is to be ready even for the worst scenarios. That is precisely why we are strengthening state resilience and critical infrastructure. So my call to the people of Latvia: let us live our daily lives, be calm but vigilant. For politicians and state officials, my call is stricter - be responsible with what you say! I ask journalists before publishing claims to contact and clarify what is meant by the draft order in the Cabinet of Ministers system.