Latvian Political Monitor

@JanisIesalnieks This is not so clear-cut, Janis. If migration is pragmatically and wisely combined with tax, investment and social policy, then a fairly good result can be achieved in the long term. Is Ireland a good example? If there are excesses, then Malmö and Paris No.2😔

Day No. 81 in the prime minister's chair (TUESDAY, 22 Sept.) — sanctions, “RailBaltica” and work with the state wallet. The morning began with office coordination, documents and preparation for the Cabinet of Ministers meeting. Next — an economic action discussion, a call of Baltic prime ministers, a government meeting and a press conference. 🇪🇺 SANCTIONS — 🇱🇻 HELD OUT TO THE LAST Latvia was the only EU country out of 27 to object until the very last against the removal of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. In the end, the choice was not between good and bad. It was between bad and much more terrible — changing the status of two persons or the collapse of the entire sanctions regime. Latvia constructively abstained. As a result, sanctions against almost 3,000 supporters of Russia's war were extended for 36 months, not as before — every six months, meaning no one will be able to touch them for 3 years. Until now, they had to be re-confirmed every 6 months. At the same time, we immediately imposed Latvian national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman. In Latvia, their funds and economic resources remain frozen. Thanks to @Arlietas, the diplomatic corps and Minister @Braze_Baiba for the work, as well as the President @edgarsrinkevics for coordinating 🇱🇻 position from NY. 🇫🇷🛡️ STRONGER SECURITY FOR LATVIA Through intensive negotiations with French President Emmanuel Macron, we reached an agreement to start talks on Latvia joining France's nuclear deterrence initiative. France has also pledged to strengthen its military presence in Latvia — especially in air defence. Security 🇱🇻 is concrete allied presence, capabilities and deterrence. 🚆 “RAILBALTICA” — BALTIC PRIME MINISTERS AGREE ON 2034 With the Lithuanian and Estonian prime ministers, we agreed on a common Baltic position and signed a 3x countries' declaration for the project's implementation. 2030 is not realistic, because RB would have to be implemented without EU funding because the new fund money is only available in 2029, and we have to finance security from the national budget. Therefore, all 3 Baltic countries agree on a realistic first-stage target — 2034. In the next EU financing period, the Baltic states will jointly ask the EU for predictable funding for the project's implementation, while on their side there is a commitment to review unnecessarily high technical requirements to reduce costs by several billion and speed up construction timelines. CUTTING THE COSTS OF THE STATE APPARATUS I signed an order to freeze the base salaries of officials also in 2027. It also applies to the prime minister, ministers and Saeima deputies. The Ministry of Finance has been tasked with preparing proposals to limit state spending — reviewing bonuses, service spending, long-standing vacancies and other expenses. Money will no longer be squandered in DECEMBER. It is also required to freeze all DECEMBER procurement. We in the state have a habit of unnecessarily spending the state budget in December with unnecessary expenses — it must be stopped so that the money stays in 2027. If we demand that the state save, we must start with ourselves. 🛂 CLEARER MIGRATION POLICY The government approved a 71-measure plan for stricter control of third-country nationals' entry, employment and studies. Some proposals still require amendments to laws, but the direction is clear — Latvia needs a migration policy that actually works. It was not a short day. But the prime minister's chair is not meant for comfort.

@RitaEvaNa Very peculiar hallucinations. Hard to call it anything else. But well... everyone can think what they want.

Day No. 78 (THURSDAY 17 Sept) — Meeting with US envoy John Coale and the Swedish ARCHER howitzer story; LIZDA 🤝 Meeting at the Cabinet of Ministers with the US D. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) envoy on Belarusian affairs, John Coale (@johnpcoale). So active, sharp-minded and with a good sense of humour – I was surprised to learn that he is already 80 years old. ➖ He had just returned from a meeting with Lukashenko, where, thanks to his efforts, a large number of political prisoners were released ➖ It was a very substantive conversation in which we discussed the situation in Belarus, the US role, the war in Ukraine and the issue of Russia and Ukraine's grain blockade ➖ I particularly highlighted Russia's organised hybrid attack with the flow of illegal migrants to the LV border through Belarus, in which special services participate and which they organise – I presented the latest figures and measures ➖ I stressed that US–Latvian economic relations cooperation must be changed and raised to a new level from 15th place into the TOP 5️⃣ – I mentioned the military industry, the energy sector and US cargo flows from Central Asia ➖ He promised to discuss the Latvian question with D. Trump 🛡️ The defence deal question on the ARCHER system from Sweden 🤷‍♂️ It is incomprehensible what motives drove the previous defence minister not to make a decision for 2 years on the purchase of the defence system and howitzers. To me it is a mystery, because if the decision had been made, we would already have had systems delivered that would fill a significant pillar of Latvia's critical defence plan. ➖ Because of the delayed and unadopted procurement decision, it is now necessary to assess which supplier is more suitable so that we can fill this position as quickly as possible. With the Czech 'Morana' system, this can be done at least 1.5 years faster ➖ Capabilities and total costs are also not unimportant. The Czech system works with all NATO and Latvia-held 155 mm ammunition, and there is a very large financial difference – we simply do not have the resources in the Ministry of Defence budget to buy the expensive Swedish systems. Moreover, the Czech manufacturer will localise 20% of production in Latvia – that means jobs, taxes and production capacity! ➖ The NBS already a year ago and again now confirmed point by point that it is not changing its assessment – for Latvia's needs the Czech system is more suitable because it covers the needs fastest 👥 Meeting with LIZDA (@lizda_lv) ➖ We talked about education reform and the fact that changes need to be less frequent and smaller. Schools and teachers are very tired of constant changes ➖ We discussed budget issues – I listened to LIZDA's and teachers' demands, while LIZDA's head Inga Vanaga also listened to my and the Cabinet's questions about state finances and the budget 📡 Meeting with OTAN ➖ OTAN military communication system that can combine all communication networks into one – a solution for civil protection services and municipalities to be in a single communication system. It is a very worth-considering option to deploy it across all Latvia, not only for military needs in the border area. I will speak with Raivis Melnis about funding 💪🇱🇻 📰 I gave interviews to Bloomberg magazine and , LIZDA

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.

I am against any migration, but according to @suvajevs logic, migrants who illegally cross the state border and who are integrated in Russian at state expense by Gātere, Lāce and Raubiško are the good ones, but those who would enter legally and buy an apartment for half a million are the bad ones. What hypocrisy.

@Talis_L @kSukevics There is nothing more to promise, one just needs to be against migration and its consequences…

@UldisVarnevichs The French basically opened the doors to their former colonies. Morocco, for example. French was accordingly available, since it had already been taught, convenient. It was similar for another colonial empire – Britain, which at one point controlled 25% of the world. Well, accordingly, whoever came, came.

The EU already expanded as it was. The rich countries initially absorbed labor from newcomers, including us. That reserve ran out, then migrants from third countries came. For a long time they didn't consider it a problem in Germany, with 83 million, some million more each year. But this isn't eternal either; at a certain critical mass, social and cultural problems begin. They missed that. And now there is hostile bitterness from all sides. They helplessly bark at each other. There is no solution. Merkel is right, and the opponents are right.

Organizing illegal migration is an attack on our national security. 🇱🇻 Russia and Belarus are using the migrant flow as a hybrid warfare tool, overloading Latvia's border guard and security services. Meanwhile, organized crime groups are making thousands of euros from each illegally moved person. That is why we have prepared stricter penalties: ⚖️ up to 12 years in prison for illegally moving people across the border in the most serious cases; ⚖️ harsher liability for aiding illegal stay in Latvia; ⚖️ harsher liability for organizing the abuse of obtaining residence rights. The numbers show the scale of the problem. In 2024, we initiated 103 criminal proceedings for these crimes, and in 2025 already 142. However, the latest @VRS_gov_lv data shows that by mid-September the number has already reached 143 criminal proceedings against 109 individuals. This is growing and internationally organized crime that must be tackled with all the state's might. Operation "Vilkatis" has been launched to strengthen the security of Latvia's eastern border and the ability of state institutions to jointly respond to attempted illegal border crossings and the activities of those involved. So far, 1054 illegal border crossers have been detained during the operation. Video: TV24 "Ziņu TOP" 17.09.

Regarding taxes - logically, they must be paid. It is a matter of self-respect and honor towards oneself and society. But we must remember that national borders have long ceased to exist when we talk about e-residency. Choices can be varied where to base oneself. US companies settle in Ireland, for example.

@VisockisJuris @jautaa_veel @AndrisKulbergs @AlvisHermanis1 @RostovskisA @AndrisBite For clarity, I am very conservative against migration from third world countries. We must accept the fact that it exists and decide together how to regulate it for our own good. Taxes can be paid wherever one wants nowadays. They can also reside in another country if anything.

Before disparaging entrepreneurs, it should be noted here that @RostovskisA and @AndrisBite pay several million in taxes every year. With what money was the JRT building built, remind me? It is simply necessary to sort out/align migration policy and stop Latvians from tearing each other apart 🫡🤝

Interesting that the biggest bearer of change @AlvisHermanis1 is able to declaim change on Facebook, but not defend ideas in the prime minister debates. Migration, you see, bothers him... Rostovskis and Bite are supposedly the main culprits in migration... but the 'famous' director has no facts, no data, no evidence, only fake claims. I defended and explained AS plans and ideas, but the director got scared...

@Afanasijs If you ask AI about golden visas, it turns out that in those distant implementation times, it was precisely Vents Krauklis, as a Saeima deputy, who was one of the most active promoters of their introduction…

I wonder what will happen to Sweden when migrant benefits and progressive leftists have wrecked the social system and they no longer have funds for a free life…

On Father's Day I go to Lapland to represent 🇱🇻 at the 🇪🇺 Arctic Summit, where Nordic and European leaders will meet to address security and the new 🇪🇺 MFF multi-annual budget issues. I will defend 🇱🇻's position on our role as an EU border state on the eastern flank in strengthening the EU border, investment in defense and the need to strengthen the border economy with an additional €7 billion in funding.