Latvian Political Monitor

Day No. 76 in the prime minister's seat (Tuesday) – Cabinet meeting already with -1 minister 😏 I returned from Lapland, but the Cabinet of Ministers has become one minister smaller during this time. 🏛️ Cabinet meeting – getting more and more amusing. The approach of elections can already be felt in almost every coalition partnership. The first government meeting with -1 minister – Uzulnieks is replaced by Augulis, but since Valainis is on a business trip, Augulis actually represented as many as 3 ZZS ministries today. 😄 🌾🚂🇷🇺 grains and Latvian farmers' exports We adopted a decision to increase the railway infrastructure fee for 🇷🇺 grain cargo. Our priority – export of Latvian farmers' products and the competitiveness of our own entrepreneurs. 📏 60 m² of land and the absurdity of bureaucracy Today I learned about yet another bureaucratic nonsense. The state is disposing of 60 m² of land, for which the owner is paid approximately €23, because that is the value of the land. But to carry out this transaction: ➖️ an appraisal costs about €200–300; ➖️ land surveying – another €1000–2000; ➖️ additionally, surveyor costs come on top. This is total nonsense. I tasked the Minister of Justice, Mr. Smiltēns, to immediately look for a solution and remove this unnecessary bureaucracy in cases where such small plots of land are involved. 🚌 €9.8 million to intercity bus operators We adopted a decision to pay bus operators €9.8 million in debt for intercity bus services. This problem has been dragging on unresolved for more than the tenure of two transport ministers of the previous government. At the same time, I tasked the Minister of Transport to bring a long-term solution already in October. Companies must know under what rules to work and how to plan their business further – they cannot live in uncertainty every year. 🎙️ LDDK/LTRK prime ministerial debates @AlvisHermanis1 did not come to the debate. Pity, because this was the right place to defend your ideas and position. I specifically wanted to hear: ➖️ what his plan for Latvia's economic growth is; ➖️ how to attract more investment; ➖️ how to increase Latvia's exports. I also find interesting the publicly voiced reproaches to LDDK and @LTRK_uznemeji about labor migration. Here, however, one should rely on facts, not loud slogans. 📊 Looking at the data on the so-called "pseudo student" problem, it is concentrated in specific universities – and @RostovskisA Turība is not among them. Whereas @darbadeveji itself does not in any way promote illegal migration. Also, for example, the Karavela led by @AndrisBite employs third-country workers legally and in a relatively small volume – mainly because in Latvia there simply are not people willing to do such physically demanding work. 👉 Migration must be discussed seriously. But more importantly – based on data, facts, and the real situation, not statements.

What exactly are my privileges? The fact that I'm at work already at 7:30, often home around 20:00, and work continues also on Saturday?

Two questions for the Leninists. In communism everything is free. Where is my free education and health quotas? The state 'must provide for me', where is it? A super popular thesis. Half a year ago the Leninists demanded the pension money back. Logically - pensions are paid by the state, so it's free! I was annoyed. Today the Leninists demand to pour fuel cheaper. For each and every one, in a united pioneer row. Clear. Now I am extremely annoyed. But I always try to understand, so two questions. 1) what is 1+1? 2) where did you grow up like this? I saw the Soviet Union, that 'free' thing. I am old. But I have never demanded anything from the state for free. I know that now I pay taxes for other people's pensions and also health quotas go to others. I have never seen 'free' for myself. Neither in collective farm times (then it was through blat, which is not free), nor now. Again, where did you screamers grow up?🫠

Shut up, communist. The state is not a milk cow. These are expenditures for defense, health, education. All from VAT and excise.

A large part of school graduates are currently illiterate. They can't calculate and can barely read (spell out). Plus the old post-Soviet generation (Brezhnevists). This is a given, you simply have to take it into account.

Go ahead and comment. How can barely funded schools, which spread the funding so that everyone gets less on average, ensure the main thing - the quality of education? Our state spends more on education as a share of GDP on average than developed countries (OECD). There is nowhere more. For this reason, municipal spending is also higher than the OECD average. Nowhere further either. Just don't put here the tired traditional slogans about noble intentions. I know them all (on two A4 pages).

@VisockisJuris The opposite. First the masses must be educated. So that 50+ of those who will vote for a technically feasible thing are elected. Technically, that is called a budget. I have a plan, but it is unpopular. So far only Argentina has implemented it.

Day No. 74 in the prime minister's seat = Safe elections; PVD will check grains; Skola2030 changes A very long Cabinet meeting with loaded issues. This time, the proposals submitted by ministers were of inadequate quality, but it was a choice to finally make a decision with longer discussions in the Cabinet. We adopted: 1. We will check 🇷🇺 grains in transit = we strengthened amendments to finally allow PVD to carry out checks. Thanks for such a quick reaction @uldisaugulis and @Zemkopibas_min for arranging the documents. Here, 🇺🇦 services and experts will help (we agreed with the 🇺🇦 prime minister) to identify stolen 🇺🇦 grains. The Ministry of Agriculture must sign a contract with the DEFRA laboratory like 🇱🇹, and implement immediate testing procedures. We are moving forward with the rest of the work. 2. We adopted amendments to SKOLA2030 to finally bring clarity for students, parents, teachers, and educational institutions. We reached an agreement. @IIndriksone is one of the TOP3 tasks. • Natural sciences, reading, and mathematics skills are declining sharply. The curve is rapidly downward. • In this school year, at least one test in each subject can be corrected. • We will abandon the mandatory weighting of summative assessments. From this school year. • Significant change – in 9th grade there will be a centralized exam in natural sciences. There will be no 20% threshold. It will not affect admission to 10th grade. • We are bringing back the French language exam as a centralized elective. From this school year. • The requirement for high school students to take at least one advanced-level exam is cancelled. It can be done voluntarily. • Threshold for exams. I also personally support keeping the 20% threshold. We leave this issue for the next government to assess. • The schedule of state tests for the 2026/2027 school year has been approved. 3. We adopted to move forward with amendments to universities to stop "pseudo" students that increase migrants. Migration control in universities. We listened to the Ministry of Education and Science, discussed. We listened to the Association of Private Universities. The system needs to be organized, but all sides must be heard. Approved to move forward to the Saeima. 4. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development @Edgars_T has done a huge job in 4 months coordinating the development of IT systems for the 15th Saeima elections. Now the systems have passed all tests and have been approved at the Cabinet meeting and handed over to the CVK for implementation. The mark for the done work will be given on election day.

It is especially important to notice the areas where we have excellence and the opportunity to compete at world level. Quantum technologies are one such area. Latvia does not have to start from scratch here. We have internationally recognized scientists, universities and and first practical projects. #science #excellence https://t.co/vt5g9Y3WZa

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?

Day No. 72 in the prime minister's chair (Monday) — 🇷🇺 NO to grain; STOP to migration 🌾 NO TO RUSSIAN GRAIN The government is unanimous and determined — we will use all available tools to stop the flow of Russian grain through Latvia. ➖️ We will repeatedly increase tariffs/rail infrastructure fees for 🇷🇺 grain transport. They must be high enough to significantly cool the desire to bring Russian grain through Latvia. (our actions are limited by the need for coordination with the EU) ➖️ We are closely coordinating with 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇪🇪 Estonia and 🇺🇦 Ukraine to make it effective ➖️ Today I am in contact with the Baltic prime ministers to reach a unified position. ➖️ This is a joint government decision. Tomorrow we will move the matter to the Cabinet of Ministers. ➖️ We expect experts from 🇺🇦 Ukraine and 🇬🇧 the UK soon to jointly begin inspections of grain cargoes. Stolen grain from Ukraine will not pass through our ports! Specific tasks for ministries: 🚛 Ministry of Transport — prepare the relevant government decision and assess the possibility of reducing domestic freight tariffs for Latvian farmers during harvest. 🌾 Ministry of Agriculture — ensure grain inspections. 🌍 Ministry of Foreign Affairs — reach a unified Baltic position on this matter. 👮 Ministry of the Interior — if stolen Ukrainian grain is found, services must act immediately - action plan. ⚓ For Kozlovskis and Augulis — ensure that Latvian ports give priority to accepting 🇱🇻 Latvian grain. 🏥 HOSPITAL NETWORK REFORM We discussed this issue repeatedly in government. ➖️ The government has already made its decision. ZZS's demand to change it is not supportable. ➖️ We will discuss specific implementation details of the reform separately. ➖️ The matter was considered in a long and detailed meeting. A break was taken, an agreement was reached — at that time it was symbolically confirmed by the joint selfie of Valainis and Hosams. ➖️ The harsh State Audit Office report on the hospital network was available to all and served as one of the bases for the Cabinet's decision. ➖️ This reform is one of the priority works the health minister has done. 🎓 EDUCATION — CHANGES MUST BE THOUGHTFUL If asked about education reforms — my position is clear: there will be no rushed changes. ➖️ This week we will consider the matter in the Cabinet of Ministers. ➖️ Rules must be clear for students, parents, and teachers alike. ➖️ Indriksone has prepared the work and done her homework, but we must reach a compromise that suits teachers, students, and schools. ➖️ I will definitely include this work in her TOP 3 list of accomplishments if all coalition partners agree ➖️ Children must be given the opportunity to correct grades. We can all make mistakes, and everyone should have a chance to correct their error. 🧪 Science exam — I support it. Latvia needs many more specialists and workers in these sectors. From the next school year we support its introduction. ➖️ Reforms are needed, but they cannot be introduced at the beginning of the school year just because elections are approaching. ➖️ The assessment system also needs improvement, but it must be done thoughtfully and in a timely manner. 🛑 MIGRATION My position — much stricter order is needed on migration. ➖️ The report is planned to be considered by the government on 22 September. ➖️ The Ministry of the Interior must do its homework this week so the document can be properly considered by the government. 🙏 NEPAL DISASTER At the end of the day — a prayer service at Riga Cathedral for the Latvian residents affected by the Nepal disaster. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones. 🇱🇻🙏

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

That's true, yes. From my taxes I have received practically only education services in my life. For myself and children. Not free, but still significant. I haven't seen free healthcare (but ears in the mirror though). In my time there was a plus - I also got very good education, now they only print diplomas🤡

Day No.69 in the prime ministerial chair - September 1st, School reform, VILKATIS against immigrants, Restored electricity, VILKATIS2 September 1st - students return, homework returns to parents, traffic jam season returns SCHOOL REFORM - we will not pursue rapid changes, education needs stability. Chemistry and physics must return, opportunity to correct one grade should be given. The government adopted a school funding model, more flexible funding allocation for salaries. VILKATIS - migrants are deterred at the border. ~480 attempts were repelled, 4 transporters detained, 2 tunnels found. 63 fence sections damaged in the storm. VILKATIS is extended for another month. ST has restored electricity to all storm victims, 9 crews are going to help 🇱🇹 to connect the remaining 11k disconnected households. The government adopted amendments to compensate the monthly electricity connection fee (5-10€ for apartments and 15-35€ for private houses) for all who had power outages over 72 hours. The Ministry of Climate and Energy approved an improved support program for heating modernization. From now on, you can keep the old system as a safety alternative in crisis conditions if you install a heat pump, batteries, modern pellet boiler, etc. Support for 3+ Honor Families increases from 70 to 85%. VILKATIS2 - task for the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence to come up with a proposal for a month-long operation to address illegal migration within Latvia, both pseudo-students and illegal migrants in employment.

Practically everyone expects the government to save everyone. That it is even capable of doing so. That's why we must cry as loudly as possible. Surely they'll give money. Every day I see delegations of criers. But there is an objective thing. There really is no money anymore. And there won't be, as before and until now, when they gave. Because there simply is no money anymore. Everything is allocated and spent. For example, today I sat in a meeting where they cried and gave speeches. That if they don't give more, then we'll shut down health care. Then let survival laws win! Trade union and other representatives at Brīvības 72 held a meeting. Heartbreaking speeches. When the speeches ended, Hosams said that that's why we are here, to solve. I said this - if we continue to cry, then survival laws will really win. The criers will leave first. Next year they need 729 million for the health sector, taking it away from others! Yes, they probably meant to liquidate the education sector. That's the 'other'. There's a billion and 200 million a year. Schools, sports, liquidate everything. I listened to the speeches, turned on the calculator, divided 700 million by the number of workers. And I offered. Each crier at the table (they have normal to very good salaries) - we pull from our own pockets and pool into policies. About 80 euros a month. And in general the only solution is to finance the shortfall ourselves, because state reserves are exhausted. Completely now. The tax base has long been overspent, we have to borrow. After my remark I was forced to leave the criers, because I had to go to another meeting, where they discussed something more important - the funeral date. There the money has also run out, the coma apparatus is working. As a society we want 2 things. Low taxes and state-paid services as in paradise. Well, socialism doesn't work, it doesn't. But only a few seem to understand that anyway. In vain have I been telling this here for years.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEPAL TRAGEDY. Current as of 1.09. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee has departed to Nepal to carry out coordination work on site to help the families and relatives of the 33 missing 🇱🇻 citizens (earlier information of 43 has been clarified). Yesterday @Braze_Baiba spoke with the Nepalese minister, full support for 🇱🇻, everything needed. From China there is silence for now after the note was sent and the announced call, but today more information may be available. 30 closest blood relatives have provided DNA samples to the State Police, which are being digitally provided to Nepalese rescue services. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a coordination meeting on 31.08 for state and municipal institutions, defining the range of issues where state and municipal support, involvement, and assistance will be needed if those missing in Nepal are not found, for their relatives: childcare, social assistance, education, health care, and other areas. Representatives of responsible state and municipal institutions will soon prepare useful practical information, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will then pass to the relatives of the missing, inviting them to contact the relevant institutions. The MFA met by VTC with Israeli experts on victim identification and issues. The MFA met with NGO representatives ready to provide support.

How does collective stupidity work? Now and then. Unchanged. Back then it was like this. Once the Police Academy was liquidated. As a result, investigators no longer received further education in pre-trial investigation on current challenges. The State Audit Office warned for years - Latvia's pre-trial investigation is being sunk by investigators' lack of professional qualifications and practical skills. Then came informative reports, the Kariņš government listened to recommendations, added prosecutors' wishes and created ... actually another legal education program, starting with ancient Greek philosophers and going through a full jurisprudence course. The state made a program called 'Pre-trial Investigation'. What does it teach? Philosophy of law and sociology. History of Latvian law. Constitutional law. Private law. Commercial law. Resolution of private law disputes. International and EU law. Nothing that addresses the problems the course was created for. Then, amid the construction cartel winds, they added that a training building worth 20 million must be built from non-existent money. As a result of institutional stupidity, they created a product, a course that did not solve the initial goal. Neither do investigators have time to attend a full master's program during working hours, nor does it solve the initial problem. Of 15 students, only 2 graduated. Now? Now they are advancing the Sports Fund. The initial idea was to attract private money to sports. Nice! Now? The initial idea has long disappeared. The idea in the Saeima has transformed away from the goal (there will be no private money), away from any sense. There was also such a point - to give money to sports so that they don't ask every year from funds for unforeseen circumstances (LNG). That too has disappeared. In fact, professional sports funding will come under the Olympic Committee. The fat cats will get more money, but grassroots and youth sports remain out in the cold. Meanwhile, requests from LNG to fund various bridges have not disappeared, they come to the Finance Ministry every week. I've long wanted to vomit. The Sports Fund freak continues its progress in the Saeima. Institutional stupidity.

@andrislov that the fact that obtaining professional rights is heavily exaggerated is a fact - 3500€ is the minimum that investing in rights costs - way too expensive.