Latvian Political Monitor

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.

Careful with that Bolshevism. Irresponsibility is one ditch, popular and disgusting, I must say, but putting everyone in prison and to a lynching court - not better.

About the Liepāja prison 'hunger strike'! Prisoner complaints are being checked, their rights are respected, but the public also needs to know and understand the full picture. On Monday, seven convicts refused the food provided by Liepāja prison. On Friday, there were four. At the same time, these people shop at the prison store and consume food they have purchased themselves. So this is not about dozens of people actually starving, but about refusing the food offered by the prison. Walks in the fresh air are provided in accordance with regulations – not less than one hour per day. Air quality in cells is ensured by mechanical ventilation. The system meets the requirements, maintenance is performed, and no defects have been found. Prisoners' objections are actually about the fact that cell windows cannot be opened. That is not a construction error, but a deliberate security solution to prevent unauthorized communication between cells, the circulation of prohibited items, and other manifestations of prison subculture. The new Liepāja prison is built according to Latvian and international requirements. Its purpose is not just to keep people behind closed doors, but to ensure a safe, lawful and resocialization-oriented execution of sentences. Resistance to the new order was predictable. Some prisoners are accustomed to the old prison environment and its informal rules. Refusing prison food, resocialization measures, or other forms of collective protest are one way to try to achieve the restoration of the old order. The prison administration continues a dialogue with prisoners and checks each specific complaint. If any deficiency is found, it will be addressed. However, the state will not back down from security requirements and the goal of reducing the influence of prison subculture. The human dignity and rights of prisoners must be respected. At the same time, lawful execution of sentences and public safety are not negotiable.

@Mikipele6 It was in the previous publication.

Yesterday we visited the border area - Terehova (border with Russia) and Pāternieki (with Belarus). While politically there are discussions about what and where can/cannot be transported in the EU ecosystem, in everyday life there is simply work that directly concerns the Ministry of Finance. Customs is a structural unit of VID, but VID itself is under the supervision of the Finance Ministry. The most pressing issue - for example, customs officers' salaries, which compete with border guards. We must try to resolve differences so as to reduce unproductive inter-agency competition. From the eastern side come goods such as Temu and Aliexpress, which stay a bit in Latvia, but most goes further to Europe. Can we facilitate customs clearance more in Latvia to ensure more taxes for the budget? A very interesting topic. Then Uzbeks traditionally bring watermelons, berries, and mushrooms, which are processed in Poland and return to our stores. In the opposite direction, a large part of cargo is EU-produced alcohol, for example. They drink, we get transit tax money and jobs in the border area. A surprising order has been introduced at the border, electronic queues, no crowding there. The biggest challenge is sanctions cases, we have to control hundreds of thousands of items, understand what is what. Even a regular house facade panel can or cannot be a sanctioned product. Handling confiscations sometimes takes months and requires very good training of customs officers. Mostly various everyday spare parts, construction materials, nothing sensational. Cigarettes are now smuggled much less, they are more produced domestically, but drugs are also caught, like this week 250 kg of heroin. A very valuable visit, we also discussed drone matters, they are 'used to it'. Also lessons from the storm in a no-communication and no-electricity situation. What we need to be ready for next time, but that also requires funding - where and how to organize the system to be better prepared next time. Well, we'll take that into account to find the most optimal solutions. It is always important to be on site, talk to people directly, office reports don't give such an impression. Meanwhile, in Riga yesterday there was a full moon. Due to the skewed fantasies of officials, a state of emergency was pushed to be introduced at the border to more easily resolve practical technical issues. A fuss arose that also echoed in foreign press. Completely unnecessary noise over stupidity.

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ I understand, but the data has been stolen from practically all residents; compensating would mean paying for ourselves... there's no such mystical pocket to draw from without affecting ourselves.

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ Addresses have been stolen, which are declared; for many they are not the same ones where they live. Addresses cannot be changed, compensated... that is not possible. Car numbers are the fastest and easiest solution to come to each victim. The situation is terrible, no easy solutions.

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. 💪

Millions of illegal cigarettes, hundreds of kg of narcotics and sanctioned goods worth millions – just a small glimpse of what @vid_gov Customs Administration officers intercept at the eastern border, protecting Latvia's economic security and providing service to honest entrepreneurs https://t.co/vbB3yBIaJD

@artis_dobrajs @agris_krusts @AlbertsZiemelis Exactly why I am asking that every CSDD cyberattack victim receive information about the offense.. there may be differences, because hackers leaked information in small portions

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.

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.

Day No.61 in the prime minister's chair 🇱🇻 BNI entrepreneurs, AirBaltic, government salaries and 5 hours on national security Wednesday started with a meeting with the President, but ended with a 5-hour-long National Security Council meeting, about the content of which I am not allowed to say much. 80 BNI entrepreneurs The day began with an early morning meeting with 80 entrepreneurs from 2 BNI clubs, where I had to answer very challenging and difficult questions in front of a full hall. I will always stand up for entrepreneurs, because they are the ones who pay all the bills in the country. Without strong entrepreneurs, there will be no strong and prosperous state. 🏛️ Meeting with the President We discussed several state-important issues. 🔐 CSDD incident and data leak ➖️ Board and council members cannot just receive often astronomical salaries. Along with the position and remuneration comes RESPONSIBILITY. ➖️ The President and I agree – at this scale of consequences, responsibility cannot end only with resignation. If harm has been done to the state and a threat has been created to people, legal responsibility must also be assessed. The Prosecutor General's Office is already working on it. I hope for a quick and fair process, because here we are also talking about the security of ALL state officials. ➖️ At the same time, other risks must be reduced. On the VID website, the database of officials' declarations is still publicly available, which can be used for profiling by connecting it with other databases and AI tools. This does not mean hiding the declarations! They are and must remain PUBLIC. But access can have at least minimal protection and traceability – for example, authentication with eParaksts, Smart-ID or https://t.co/kCHMBLvCE6. We preserve the public's right to know, but we should not leave the door wide open for mass data collection. ✈️ AirBaltic strategic plan ➖️ I emphasized that one of the most important tasks is to find a STRATEGIC INVESTOR specifically in the aviation sector. The Ministry of Finance must be tasked with actively seeking and attracting a strong industry player. ➖️ We agreed that AirBaltic remains a significant part of Latvia's economy. The Saeima and the government must do everything possible to prevent the airline from becoming insolvent. Kozlovskis and the Ministry of Transport's plan must be given a chance to work as a last resort to ensure that this time the company is saved by private capital, not again just by state money. 💶 Public sector salary increases and indexation for 2027 – WE CANCEL In a situation where tax revenues are not being met and the state is living on borrowing, further increasing spending on public sector salaries would be wrong. Especially at a time when salary levels in the public sector have already reached or even surpassed the private sector in many places. First, let's sort out state finances. Then we talk about new spending. Call with Moldovan Prime Minister Vasili Tofanu We discussed the two countries' positions on European enlargement. ➖️ My position is clear – the doors to Europe are open for Ukraine 🇺🇦 and Moldova 🇲🇩. Now the countries themselves must do their homework, continue reforms and adapt to European standards in order to be ready for EU membership. ➖️ Interestingly, we both come from the business environment. This very quickly allows finding common language – fewer diplomatic phrases, more about practical solutions and results. ➖️ We also discussed the future of Transnistria. A very interesting reality – about 73% of trade transactions already take place with the EU bloc, and about 235,000 people are closely connected to Moldova's economic space. Integration is already happening practically and peacefully in many places. ➖️ Moldova is also seriously concerned about Russia-created and funded electoral populism, disinformation, and attempts to influence public opinion. 🌾 For the first time summoned to the @ZZS_ faction. Like at school – to the principal 😄 I was questioned about AirBaltic for 1.5 hours. With full responsibility, I explained the figures, risks, possible scenarios, and what will happen with one or another Saeima decision. But, as I suspected, in the end it turned out that ZZS had already decided to vote AGAINST beforehand. So the question arises – why was an hour and a half of "hearing" needed? 🤷‍♂️ I feel sorry for my time. 🛡️ The day ended with a 5-hour-long National Security Council meeting. I will not publicly say much about the content, of course. But on security issues, Latvia currently has neither holidays nor the option to postpone anything to a later time. That was Day No.61.

I welcomed @eucopresident to Riga today for a very important and productive meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. 🇱🇻🇪🇺 We discussed the EU’s next seven-year Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), where I stressed the importance of strong European support for the countries on the EU’s Eastern Flank. Countries protecting the EU’s external border against an aggressor are investing not only in their own national security, but in the security of Europe as a whole. This responsibility must be properly reflected in the next EU budget. There can be no strong defense without a strong economy — and no strong economy without security. Watch the full interview at the link below.