Latvian Political Monitor

One thing is clear - given how Suvara behaved in the Riga City Council, the new Speaker of the Saeima should have a strong liver...

I support. I wonder what ZZS will say about that now... :) https://t.co/slk0uXOmhd

Sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the elections and made their choice! I especially want to thank those who entrusted their vote to me and our team. Your support is not only a great honor but also a responsibility – to work in the interests of Latvia. https://t.co/7Pi4kjhXgo

Yes, that is one of the points of the plan.

@EliEliina @Kuskis Yes, in Germany they recently cut unemployment benefits in this way. You go and they offer you vacancies. Whatever they are. Don't want it, proud? Then you can manage on your own, and they remove the benefit.

@ivchix Our own people. That is distinctly characteristic of us Latvians, unfortunately. Less so for Russians, I have noticed before—look at SV's results, for instance. There it is noticeably less, only as many as the Bremans. https://t.co/jV2JnBSv8W

There is no drama here. I have a good relationship with Česlavs, we have discussed education a lot. Mostly on the same wavelength. At the time he was also an excellent principal at the school where the children go, all due respect. What I saw in the budget expenditure review group is a separate topic. The control of how funding is used is below any criticism. And when all ministries buckled down and brought savings, when defense spending needed to be raised to 5%, the Ministry of Education and Science put its feet up on the table and got a free pass. That is not good, not good at all.

It is structured into sections. There are reforms (merging institutions with overlapping functions, for example), then there are 'topics', essentially cutting functions or reducing funding, and also a tax section — how much can be gained from changing tax rates. A full menu, like in a restaurant. What actually comes of it depends very much on the cooks. Just like in a restaurant.

Thank you. And a little about the election tram. Thank you to everyone who gave me a plus. Those are personal. I didn't expect it, to be honest. Neither here nor privately did I promise anyone manna from heaven, which would be politically logical. That's what 'everyone' does. In a way, it turns out I am apolitical; for years I have been explaining various things, not always with the grain, because not everything is as one would wish. My delivery is often sharp and always direct. That annoys quite a few people, I understand. Among my relatives there are some young people, for example, who very much dislike that I didn't promise them a Cafe Latte. They voted for Lenin's children, progress and free happiness. So I was surprised by those almost 4,000 pluses, but I suppose that is respect for the content. Thank you for that! And now about the tram. Politics shows people as they are. There is no need to be ashamed of that, but look at the minuses in the election results. Practically everyone has ~3,000 minuses there. Very similar for everyone? Yes, that is the tram. For publicly known people one can still understand, and for me one can understand completely, because I annoy many. Then there are a few who have done nothing in this Saeima, absolutely nothing; they have been rolled down to the bottom of the list with more substantial minuses. One could understand that, but I was nevertheless surprised - since when are do-nothings, genuinely nice people, being striked? Strange, very strange, I really did not expect this, and that is not sarcasm. But. Where do those typical 3+ thousand minuses come from for such people, and for many whom 'nobody' knows? What for? There is nothing to hate. The answer is that they are their own people. That craving to crawl into the Saeima is so dramatic that relatives and friends are asked to strike everyone, and to give pluses only to the aspirant himself. And that is where the ballast comes from, those 3000+ strikes for each and every one. Only the prime minister does not have them, because he is the tram driver; there is no point in cancelling him, otherwise the tram will run off the rails. But to my followers, thanks again. I greatly appreciate the credit of trust. And the credit will have to be repaid, I am aware of that and I don't think otherwise. That is responsibility. Thanks also to @Apvienotais_ and personally @AndrisKulbergs for the opportunity to run in these elections. I was not and do not intend to be a burden to you. There are only 5 people on the Riga list who have more pluses than minuses. Have a nice day, everyone, and soon I'll go to work. While celebrations continue and some have election hangovers, the budget and many many everyday things do not sleep. Now only the public performance part begins; intensive work will continue until the new coalition is formed and the tram of dividing up positions is finished. That's how it is. https://t.co/AnkmBCD308

That is for several reasons. Budget revenues are not just taxes; they also include so-called foreign aid, i.e. EU funds. They are disproportionately large this year, which is why budget revenues have grown by 10%, although taxes are growing basically in line with inflation (2% real growth, 3-4% inflation, around 5.5% in total). Well, and in the next 4 years, the theft from the second pension pillar (1% of the social tax) ends, as does the bank windfall tax (solidarity payment).

@zanulens @jenuufa @Apvienotais_ Thank you... right words

Thank you, @ZelenskyyUa . It is important that we have strong governments across NATO’s and the EU’s Eastern Flank, especially in countries bordering the aggressor in the East. This is essential to safeguard our democratic values, strengthen our defence and security, and at the same time carry out the reforms needed to grow our economies. Defence industry cooperation is an area where we must continue building on the strong progress we have already made together with you and 🇺🇦. Support for Ukraine is—and will remain—a priority for Latvia 🇱🇻 and for 🇪🇺. By fighting back against Russia’s occupying forces, Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom and sovereignty—you are helping keep all of Europe safe. We stand with Ukraine. 🇱🇻🤝🇺🇦

Thank you, Volodymyr. It is important that we have strong governments across NATO’s and the EU’s Eastern Flank, especially in countries bordering the aggressor in the East. This is essential to safeguard our democratic values, strengthen our defence and security, and at the same time carry out the reforms needed to grow our economies. Defence industry cooperation is an area where we must continue building on the strong progress we have already made together with you and 🇺🇦. Support for Ukraine is—and will remain—a priority for Latvia 🇱🇻 and for 🇪🇺. By fighting back against Russia’s occupying forces, Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom and sovereignty—you are helping keep all of Europe safe. We stand with Ukraine. 🇱🇻🤝🇺🇦

Dear Latvian people! I want to say one simple word — THANK YOU. Thank God for strength and wisdom. Thank my family for patience and support. And thank you — the people of Latvia — for your trust. I am very well aware of the significance of this trust. And even more — of the duty. I and AS will not promise that it will be easy. But I promise one thing: Latvia's interests will come above my own. The state's interests — above all positions, with full Responsibility. To those who voted for us — thank you again. To those who did not vote — I will work for you too. Because from now on it is no longer about elections. It is about our Latvia, about our children and changes, so that together we put Latvia back on the right course. We are a small country, but we are not a small nation. May God protect our families and Latvia. Thank you. Today on Sunday with families and children, but tomorrow already at work, at changes!

Thank you, @GiorgiaMeloni , for your warm wishes and support. It meant even more to receive your call and have the opportunity to speak with you personally. We must continue strengthening the friendship between Italy 🇮🇹 and Latvia 🇱🇻 and work together to make our 🇪🇺 stronger — defending Europe against aggression while investing in both our defence and our economies. We share the same values, and that is fundamental to our European identity, strength and unity. 🇪🇺

Thank you, Giorgia, for your warm wishes and support. It meant even more to receive your call and have the opportunity to speak with you personally. We must continue strengthening the friendship between Italy 🇮🇹 and Latvia 🇱🇻 and work together to make our 🇪🇺 stronger — defending Europe against aggression while investing in both our defence and our economies. We share the same values, and that is fundamental to our European identity, strength and unity. 🇪🇺

Yes. The Ministry of Education is the most horrifying in terms of money inefficiency. I have concrete proposals. The goal is education quality, in my opinion. Not concrete, school walls and heating. And 3-child classes with maybe not the best teacher team (those who live nearby). Quality education is the goal. I got one and don't want to deny it to others. Our children are a priority, education is the foundation of national welfare. Personally, I could live in the forest too, but since there are three children in the family, I choose to live where good schools are nearby. That is the parents' choice, also mine, until they grow up.

If I didn't have such a strong wife who supported me so much, I could never fulfil the duties of the office of Prime Minister. Thank you, Anna Kulberga https://t.co/UdVzCgVPL3