Latvian Political Monitor

There is a difference between the railway tariff and the railway infrastructure usage fee. One needs to be partially coordinated, the other does not.

@Mikipele6 @Apvienotais_ We have been through everything and know what we are doing. Our responsible @Sat_Min is preparing the necessary decisions. On Tuesday we will look at @Brivibas36. Follow the events, less reference to ministers of another country. Thank you!

🇷🇺 NO TO RUSSIAN GRAIN – NO. I am pleased that the Saeima has broad support for economic restrictions on Russia. I see this as a clear mandate from the Saeima for the government to continue the work already begun. And we will continue. Decisively. Not with loud slogans, but with real actions. We will not look for excuses why something cannot be done. We will not hide behind endless approvals and waiting for others to decide in our place. Latvia itself has the tools, and they must be used. Our goal is clear – to maximally restrict the transit of Russian grain and prevent Latvia's infrastructure from helping the aggressor state's economy earn money and finance the war against 🇺🇦. Of course, one cannot help but notice the approaching elections. 😉 Suddenly the loudest fighters against Russian grain transit and seekers of 'bloody grain' are also among those who, for the past three years, while in power, could have acted themselves. Back then – excuses, hesitation, and arguments why not. Now – loud calls for the government to act. We in the government have already been acting since August. On Tuesday, a draft amendment prepared for the Cabinet of Ministers will be brought. The only difference – we will not talk, but act. 🇱🇻🤝🇺🇦

Simplified expropriation of real estate for public needs ✅ The government has supported the Ministry of Justice's proposal to abandon an unnecessary bureaucratic step in the voluntary expropriation of real estate for public needs. If a property is needed for the construction of a road, railway, or another publicly significant object and an agreement has been reached with the owner, after determining fair compensation, a separate Cabinet of Ministers decision will no longer be necessary. This means: 🔹 the process can be completed about a month faster; 🔹 the owner will receive fair compensation sooner; 🔹 government employees will not have to spend time on a procedure that no longer changes the decision in essence. In the implementation of "Rail Baltica" alone, such an additional government decision has so far been needed in more than 100 cases. Public administration must work efficiently. If a procedure does not provide real added value, it must be abandoned! It is important to add that nothing is taken from the owner without compensation, and their rights do not change. Compensation will also continue to be fair and correspond to the actual value of the property. If a previously performed property assessment has become outdated, the property will need to be re-assessed before the decision is made. ℹ️ Now the Saeima must decide on the amendments.

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

Day No. 71 (Friday) in the prime minister’s seat ✈️—airBaltic: the new, expensive short-term private loan Let everyone be clear. The choice is between saving airBaltic or continuing to be a bad owner without money. As prime minister, I do not want the state to continue being a bad owner. We trust the professionals, the management board, the supervisory board and Kozlovskis. The plan was brought to the government, we approved it, anchored it in law, which provides for it. I have been saying for a month that decisions are in the hands of bondholders. In this loan, the state does not invest money in @airBaltic. The loan is private short-term financing (secured bondholders and a private fund without collateral cover) that gives Transport Minister Kozlovskis (JV), airBaltic management and the supervisory board 180 days to finally put the company in order and attract a strategic investor. 💶 The new loan is expensive because it reflects airBaltic’s real financial situation. It is in fact the last chance to save the company. In 2024, during Siliņa's government, airBaltic borrowed 380 million euros in very expensive bonds. Even then, this money was supposed to serve to put the company in order. But over two years the money was burned—costs were not cut, the number of aircraft/routes was not reviewed, and finances and debts were not put in order. The result is logical: the next money is even more expensive because lenders see the company’s current risk. 📌 Note — the new private loan’s interest rate is lower than the 30 million euro state loan supported by Siliņa's government and PRO in APRIL (without a plan, without a rescue strategy). Why lower? Because this government reduces the government’s role. It effectively removes the risk that the state as owner could behave inadequately. Immediately the market is ready to provide funds for restructuring. My position on airBaltic has been clear for a long time: 1️⃣ airBaltic’s future is now largely in the hands of bondholders, not shareholders. 2️⃣ The state as owner and airBaltic management could have put the company in order while it still had money. Weak cooperation between company management and political leadership also led to the fact that the then IPO plan was not realized. 3️⃣ This created a situation where the company has a weak financial position, but the owner—the state—has no free money with which to save the company. 4️⃣ If the state as owner has neither the resources nor sufficient experience and knowledge to pull the company out of a severe financial situation, then the state alone cannot save the company. (ZZS @ViktorsValainis understands very well and knows that Lufthansa refused and does not want to finance AB) 5️⃣ That is why the airBaltic management board and supervisory board, together with Seabury, have developed a plan to stabilize the company’s financial situation with the help of private financial investors—in principle without state money. 6️⃣ For this plan to be implemented, the state must let professionals work and must not create additional obstacles. This is the plan submitted to the government by Transport Minister Kozlovskis, which the government has accepted and for whose implementation the necessary legal framework has also been adopted. 7️⃣ 💼 Financial investors evidently believe that within six months the company’s finances can be put in order sufficiently for airBaltic to continue its development and attract a strategic investor. 8️⃣ Now Transport Minister Kozlovskis and the airBaltic supervisory board, which represents state interests, must do everything possible in these 180 days to attract a strategic investor for whom Riga is important as the main base. 🇱🇻 Latvia needs an investor who sees airBaltic’s long-term development specifically in Latvia, with its main base and jobs. Ideally, it would be a partner alongside whom the Latvian state could also retain or acquire a stake in the company in the future. 9️⃣ This is now the direct responsibility of the Ministry of Transport, Minister Kozlovskis and the airBaltic supervisory board. I will ask for regular reports on the potential investors approached and progress of negotiations. ⚠️ I am not satisfied with the current pace of approaching investors. We must get it together. These 180 days must not be wasted.

Starting from the situation with inheritances from the previous government – 'Air Baltic' and 'Rail Baltica', and ending with pensions and pay for deputies… We had a heart-to-heart talk about such a wide range of issues with entrepreneurs and seniors, meeting in Talsi. Thanks for the meeting and the constructive conversation! https://t.co/iQOLdTNUia

DECISIONS AFTER THE STORM Electricity disappeared for 280,000 households, communications disappeared, radio didn't report, coordination was weak, payment systems didn't work, ATMs didn't work, medicines couldn't be sold even if there was electricity because data systems didn't work. That was the reality, where even the energy crisis state wasn't declared. We gathered yesterday for a meeting to decide what needs to change to be more prepared - we heard from the KVC (Crisis Management Center) and services. We immediately adopted 12 urgent decisions to improve readiness so that the next storm/crisis situation wouldn't catch us so unprepared. (I don't really understand what the state has been doing all the previous 4 years) = GOOD NEWS - electricity damage (over 2000 cases) was cleaned up very quickly (Lithuania with a smaller number is still fighting with thousands of unconnected homes); all hospitals worked without electricity disruption, generators worked 🟠Latvia must create a unified, practically functioning crisis management system, where the state, municipalities and critical service providers operate according to a common plan. (Example should be taken from Ukraine, where all services are in a unified system) 🟠The protective belt widths of AST and ST power line trees must be increased so that there aren't so many damages. 🟠The mobile network must work not 4 hours without electricity, but at least 72 hours, voice calls need better coverage, in crisis situations Latvian users must be able to have local roaming between operators. 🟠Offline, or non-online mode, must allow payment for fuel, food, medicines for both businesses and individuals with cash or credit card. 🟠Ensuring continuity of communications and electricity, creating a unified information channel and organizing regular training, during which we will inventory crisis resources and ensure our readiness. 🟠I want to emphasize that crisis management training must be regular. And of course, still important – timely and unified communication. Because creating an information channel will have no result if we cannot promptly and professionally inform the public. 🟠Old, outdated limits must be reviewed – cash transactions, the tiny liters of fuel, etc. 🟠Residents have been asked for years to prepare for 72-hour situations. The same readiness principle must apply to the state, municipalities and critical public service providers. In some sectors, the necessary autonomous operation time could be longer than 72 hours, according to risk assessment. 🟠 KVC work must be significantly improved. The Crisis Management Center must compile proposals from sectors and come with concrete solutions to the government in the areas discussed today. https://t.co/qnnUjGTXhm

I have discussed the issue of grain transportation with Ukraine's Prime Minister Serhij Koreckis and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine's services have information about grain illegally taken out of Ukraine by Russia, which is planned to be exported through the Baltics in large volumes in the near future. We must immediately use this to strengthen Latvia's transit control system. We have agreed that Ukrainian food processing and safety experts will come to Latvia, and Ukrainian special services will also be involved. Ukraine, in cooperation with the United Kingdom, has created a database and solution for verifying grain origin. No one knows their grain's origin, producers, documents and possible illegal export routes better than Ukraine's institutions. We do not need to reinvent what Ukraine already knows and does best. At the same time, the interests of Latvian farmers must be strongly defended. This year's harvest must finally get a respite after three very hard years. Although there are currently no concerns about Latvia's port capacity, Latvian farmers' products must have priority access to our railways and ports. Therefore I have instructed the port administrations and state company "Latvijas dzelzceļš" to ensure that agricultural products of Latvian origin, including grain, receive logistics priority. https://t.co/xYSIsrcqlS

Almost 100 million euros invested in the passenger terminal expansion project at @riga_airport are not simply expenses. It is an investment in Latvia's future — our ability to attract people, businesses, new flights and new opportunities. https://t.co/yg9LAH1fxx

@axe_lv And? This is valid, nothing needs to be done there. The next number plate procurement is in 2029.

Information about the situation with power grid damage - I just spoke with the Lithuanian Prime Minister, who asked me how we managed to fix such a large number of damages so quickly? Yes, our emergency teams have indeed worked wonders, because from 284,000 households without electricity we've already reduced to 2,538 households. In Lithuania there were 260,000 without electricity and today there are still 30,000. Our ST and AST technicians of power lines have done a huge job to repair together 2,369 broken lines/damages. Imagine the number of trips! I thanked the Estonian Prime Minister for their help, who came to assist with their 20 experts. Next week we need to adopt significant amendments so that after such a storm there wouldn't be such a large scale of damages. One of the significant reasons is that the distance of trees from power lines is too close, many trees damaged AST and ST wires, which is unacceptable - the regulation must be changed. There are still significant decisions and error corrections/omissions that need to be addressed already next week at the extraordinary Cabinet of Ministers meeting on September 4 to improve our preparedness in crisis conditions. We cannot allow such a situation during winter.

Day No. 62 (Thursday) in the prime minister's seat — AirBaltic address in the Saeima and the visit of the Lithuanian PM Who makes the prime minister's daily video? 🏛️ Thursday began with an address in the Saeima The speech was devoted to the vote on @airBaltic. I emphasized that this vote is vitally important for the airline — it is effectively the last chance to escape the debt burden that, until now, was not accumulated by attracting 380 million € in financing during the JV government and E. Siliņa's leadership. The positive signal — private financiers, not the state, are involved in attracting financing for AirBaltic. AirBaltic's future will no longer rest only on the state's shoulders. Thank you to the Saeima deputies who acted in a state-minded way by voting in support of saving AB, so that it can finally sort out its finances and debts before attracting a strategic investor. On Thursday, the first foreign visit of the Lithuanian PM took place — the new PM @mindaugassink visited Latvia. As is usual among Baltic neighbors, we discussed all our common "Baltics" 😉 — airBaltic, Rail Baltica, Via Baltica, as well as other common issues for Latvia and Lithuania. 🛡️ We particularly emphasized the common challenges: ➖️illegal migration; ➖️security on our external border; ➖️Latvia and Lithuania cooperation in border protection. 🚁 We had also planned to go together to the Latvia–Belarus border, but the weather made adjustments — due to heavy rain we could not fly by helicopter. I was ready to go by car, but the Lithuanian colleague chose not to go this time. No matter — next time. There are still plenty of border issues to address together. 🇱🇻🤝🇱🇹 The closer Latvia and Lithuania cooperate, the stronger the entire Baltics.

One more thing about the conclusions after the storm. The services are working as hard as they can, well done, but they are people with boots on the ground, normal people. But @Sadalestikls' information system has gone to NifNuf (two piglets). That was thought up in offices by highly paid managers. How was it before? Well, for example, in my area in Carnikava you could call the ST service, or go there, the masters could roughly explain what and how. How long to wait. They have work schedules, they know, dispatchers know. Then a person knows - need to buy water, maybe book a hotel, or go to relatives with family if you have to wait a week. Wait as long as you wait, but at least tell me, even very roughly. But now the electricity system has introduced an e-health analog (works on avos). For example, I found 'ends' through acquaintances, found out when what was planned. The masters know, the bosses know how serious the accident is, they can predict something. But officially there's nowhere to call now. Only 'by pull'. The interactive map showed me a meaningless 'until work is completed'. A day, a week, a month? At least tell me if days are planned, not hours? After a day and a half they connected my electricity. But today I get a few calls, they curse. I need to know, they say. The closer to the government, the crisis center. But I really don't know. One person says the interactive map since yesterday shows - until 23. But today another day has passed. And nothing, e-health shows 23:00, but in what year, month? Not said, not lied. Maybe we go back to manual vote counting, like in elections? Why some impersonal e-health in energy, if the management are nifnufs, usually pink piglets? 🐷

@Broks Even better is to look through the prism of cold January winter days - or even better as it is for Ukrainians, every day. I have very specific points that are known, where things went wrong - we need to clearly implement the things to do. KVC is one of those that needs to be remade and strengthened.

@maijaroze_ @ast_lv @Sadalestikls If they don't clear, then electricity supply depends on wind whims, weather forecasts. Protection of high-voltage lines should be basic, but in offices such logic apparently doesn't work.

The video maker is obviously not a local. In Dagda there are no traffic lights anywhere, also in Zilupe or Viļaka or Kārsava... and in many other small towns. And the fact that after the storm there was no electricity for a while is not the end of the world.

Russia's aggression and the international crimes it has committed must have consequences! We clearly confirmed this today in Tallinn together with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Lithuanian Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė. 🇺🇦 On Ukraine's Independence Day, our message is especially important – the Ukrainian people have the right to decide for themselves about their freedom, their country, and their future. Our task is to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its crimes and that they do not go unpunished. We also discussed Belarus's instrumentalization of migration, which puts pressure on our region. Such attempts to use people to create political pressure are unacceptable. 🇱🇻🇪🇪🇱🇹 And we must also be united on regional development issues – including the Rail Baltica project and the defense of our common interests in the European Union. United Baltic states are stronger – both in defending the rule of law, security, and the future of our region.