Latvian Political Monitor

Support for Ukraine is Latvia's security policy. And that must be demonstrated with deeds. @Apvienotais_ has supported Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion — in municipalities, the Saeima, the government and the European Parliament. The 'Twitter convoy' led by Reinis Pozņaks continues to deliver the cars Ukraine so badly needs. The government has also made concrete decisions on military support. And last week in Kyiv I signed a cooperation memorandum between Latvia's and Ukraine's justice ministries to help strengthen the rule of law, the resilience of the judicial system in crises, and Ukraine's path to the European Union. This cooperation is mutual: we help Ukraine, and from Ukraine's experience we learn how to strengthen Latvia's security as well. 🇱🇻🇺🇦 🎥 Video: Delfi TV debate 'Next, please!' on Latvia's place in the world (23.09.)

I agree, but in my haste I grabbed this image and published it. Our work pace doesn't allow us to check everything carefully 10 times. It happens. What goes out for signature officially always goes through the four-eyes principle—there it's in order. I could have deleted the post, but there wouldn't be much point. After all, everyone who wanted to has already commented on those two spaces.

@SandrisSabajevs @Braze_Baiba @AndrisKulbergs One more small remark — in my opinion, none of us here among those mentioned are against sanctions, let alone against those orc scoundrels. There is really no other way to call them👌

Russia wants us to be afraid and stop helping Ukraine. We will not play this game. After what I have seen in Ukraine, I take especially seriously the risk that Russia will intensify attacks on infrastructure before winter and try to hamper the delivery of allied aid. At the same time, it is trying to sow fear here in Latvia too. Our answer must be clear: we strengthen Latvia's defence and continue to support Ukraine. These are one and the same security interests. Every step that strengthens Ukraine's ability to defend itself also helps protect our region. We will not give in to intimidation. We will act together with our allies. 🎥 Video: Delfi TV debate “Next, please!” about Latvia's place in the world (23.09.)

@SandrisSabajevs @Braze_Baiba @AndrisKulbergs The reproach is that the PM has to do the direct duties of the MFA. Important duties! Diplomats' work is to handle such matters, not for the PM to call emergency Cabinet meetings. Am I wrong? Correct me if I'm not🤝

@Rodzha Yes, realistically there is one year for reforms. After that, municipal elections. Difficult decisions can only be made next year. That's what we say. Reforms and then for the remaining 3 years the fiscal effect from them.

@Rodzha Yes. All of that has been built up over many years. The next multi-year budget... I don't even know how we'll manage to make ends meet now. No, well. The worst was 2009 when pensions were cut. That's not threatened here, but in all other respects the situation is very complicated.

There is a lot. And no, the presentation contains what has never been shown to the public before. The three scenarios have not been shown. Plus with the latest updated data, which is also fresh. And additionally, we have done a lot. These are just summary numbers, we have a very extensive material underneath. Every corner has been searched. Options where we could save something, consolidate (duplication of functions) and the like. A menu for the next coalition. Various choices. Just don't take me for a fool either. In the pre-election fuss, such things won't come out of the Finance Ministry. It has happened before with the previous minister. You give the menu, but the political manipulation specialists present it as 'The Ministry of Finance is preparing ... either to raise taxes or to take bread from German children'. From Shurik's creativity. We are not preparing anything and there is no such function. When the new coalition sits down at the table and understands what it wants to do, which scenario to choose, then I can give the menu. Chicken, meatball or kebab. Choose! 🙂

An important question for residents and investors is what will happen to tax rates. Taxes should not be raised! But at the same time, we must abandon the once-prevalent view that there is as much money as ever, and continue to assess whether all planned expenditures are reasonable. I addressed this to @FICILatvia https://t.co/scj2wu8aeU

Well, it's been happening for a long time, all the time. A schedule was approved in the spring, and a lot has already been done. The presentation only presented aggregate numbers. Underneath them, detailed calculations have already been prepared, with choices outlined that politicians will have to review and decide one way or another. We need to listen less to the muttering on social media. It's all fake that 'nothing is there'.

The Finance Minister announced his choice this morning on the Morning News. The medium scenario. Why? Well, because right now it's not realistic to fill the hole that has arisen by adding an additional 3% of GDP for defense. And no country can do that. Absolutely none. So what then? Well, one option would be at least not to use the allowed increase in borrowing for defense plus 1.5% of GDP, but to try to keep the deficit at the old 3%. Which is also very difficult to do. In a normalized (not war preparation) budget, that would be a balanced budget. We don't have a normal situation. Defense has to be financed at all costs, and then some deficit inevitably arises. But that has to be accepted. But what the new coalition or even any specific party will decide - we'll see, there are still many faints and debates ahead.

What are you going to purge? Well, then say it! Lay off the army, police, doctors, or teachers? They are all in the public sector. At all levels, you can barely scrape together 100 million from civil servants. Not billions by any means. Then, whether you like it or not, you will have to answer to those who will be elected. If you are so eager for power, realize that it will be you who will have to do something like that, and then your own brothers and sisters will cut off your head. That is exactly what happened to the French with that revolution. After all, you too are revolutionaries?

Today there was hysteria in the Saeima Budget Committee. We showed the true state of the budget. This follows the Kübler-Ross model (described in the book 'On Death and Dying'). The first stage is denial. They denied the data, refused to believe it, and started shouting. What is it about? You see, the projected budget for the coming years has been deep in the red for a long time. This is publicly known. More than a billion needs to be cut, but mainly by 2030. That is far away. But that is only half the trouble. There are also additional decisions adopted for over 2 billion that need to be cut on top of that. And they have been promised, but money in the budget will be sought only after the elections (because it is a political choice and not for this Saeima). There you have it — so what will we take away? Only the new Saeima may decide that. Logically. And together it is apocalyptic — billions are not millions and not even hundreds. It means limiting public expenditure. Which ones? Well, that will be the choice of the next coalition/Saeima. We showed the apocalyptic hole in the wallet that has been built up over many years. And that is not all. These deficits are if we continue borrowing as before. Up to the brim. To achieve a deficit-free budget, 9 billion need to be cut. You could even dismiss all ministries and shut the state down, and it still would not be enough. So there you have it. Ten years of blatherers in power. What did you expect?

Dear Mrs. @Braze_Baiba, please tell me why @AndrisKulbergs had to be kicked out head over heels at the last moment because of the Foreign Ministry team's work that was not done on time? You are very lucky that you are still the Minister of Foreign Affairs because of 3/10🤝 https://t.co/Yl5wl8EmfK

We are growing a bit. Small pluses also in September!

We will be in Rēzekne on Sunday #LatgolaMumsIrRysynuojums https://t.co/2Db1NSuvfz

@kukseriks So you are for autocracy? In democratic countries, anyone may be elected. Janka may elect whatever sheriff she wants. And she elects. A like-minded one.

Then you probably haven't read a single bill. Just go to the portal and see how much there is. About anything, from beetles to the finer points of taxes. Read it, then think about whether you yourself would understand any of it. When you gather barmen, shopkeepers and other good people, how many of them know a thing about all that? When it comes to finances, in each case practically maybe a few. And there all election promises disappear. It's like being given a mandate and at the same time breaking a Swiss watch — here, take it, fix it now! And then as a deputy you realize — I am Zariņš! There were two of them, never once stepped up to the rostrum. And then next time in the Saeima the Zariņšes are replaced by Bērziņšes. Not a clue. What competence, then?