Latvian Political Monitor

This is work: https://t.co/pekL8zi61A

In all this storm mess, the thing that failed the most was Latvian Radio. The broadcaster, which could and should have become the main information provider for the public, calmly aired radio plays and worked in weekend mode. I wonder, will @seplpadome react to this somehow?

This storm was a painful dress rehearsal for Latvia's and every person's readiness to overcome crisis situations. Thank you to firefighters, medics, police officers, electricity network crews, municipal workers, volunteers and everyone who is still working to help people and restore critical services. The storm showed an unpleasant truth: if electricity disappears over a wide area, many other critical everyday services also start to stop. Many of us were affected not only by the lack of electricity. Mobile communications and internet were disrupted, fuel stations, shops, ATMs, payment terminals and traffic lights did not work. Traffic and train movement were disrupted. In places, water supply and sewerage operations were endangered. Even operational services in some places had difficulty refueling their vehicles. The storm also revealed a problem with cash circulation. Without electricity and internet, card payments may not be possible, and ATMs do not work. Under these circumstances, cash becomes a critically important reserve means of payment. There must be a clear action plan by the state, banks and merchants on how to ensure the availability and circulation of cash during a crisis. People reported that in some shops, bread and drinking water ran out within three to four hours. We need to assess whether shops and logistics networks are ready for a rapid increase in demand and can ensure the supply of essential goods also when electricity, communications and electronic payments do not work. Equally important is the operation of pharmacies and the availability of medicines. What happens if a pharmacy has no electricity, internet or access to e-prescriptions? Where can a person get life-saving medicines? How is the public informed about working pharmacies? There must also be a clear crisis algorithm here, not improvisation after the event. Unfortunately, today I did not find a unified, comprehensible and regularly updated overview of the situation. People had to search for information themselves on the websites and social media accounts of various institutions, companies and municipalities. But during a crisis, a person must be able to get answers to very specific questions in one place: ❓ Where is there no electricity? ❓ Where are mobile communications and internet not working? ❓ Which roads are closed and where is public transport disrupted? ❓ Where is water supply and sewerage endangered? ❓ Which shops, fuel stations and pharmacies are operating? ❓ What exactly is being done? ❓ In what order are damages expected to be repaired and services restored? Such information must be unified, verified and regularly updated. At the same time, there should be a backup information solution for situations when people have no electricity, internet or mobile communications. Once the acute crisis phase has been overcome, I expect a comprehensive assessment from the Crisis Management Center on how the state overcame this crisis, what worked, what did not and what urgently needs to be improved. The assessment must conclude with a concrete action plan, specifying those responsible, deadlines and necessary investments. But responsibility is not only on the state. Also every Latvian household must critically assess whether we seriously took the previously distributed warnings and whether we can cope for at least 72 hours without electricity, internet, shop, ATM and immediate operational services help. Do we have drinking water, food, necessary medicines, a flashlight, batteries, a charged external battery, a radio and cash at home? Does the family have a comprehensible action plan? Do we know how we will help children, seniors, neighbours and people with special needs? This time it was a storm about which we received advance warnings. The next crisis may start without such warning. I am currently in Ukraine, where they have to deal with an identical situation every day. Yesterday I saw with my own eyes how crisis coordination systems are integrated into a military command center, where you can see every service online - VUGD, police, medicine, gas, municipal services, rescuers... all. I will bring this system to Latvia.

I didn't quite understand? The increase is built into the coefficient written into the law, which increases on January 1... freezing is the fastest way to take action... the alternative is more complicated because the law needs to be changed... what exactly isn't clear here? There is no increase today... and none was planned on my part. It is a norm written into the law that the media interpreted, but before claiming anything, the budget must be approved.

Yesterday the NB8 (Nordic countries + Baltics) leaders' meeting took place in Kyiv, on Ukraine's national flag day. Here's a small excerpt from my closing speech https://t.co/opFI6GZB8d

@BSmildzina The countries you mention were not occupied and looted for 50 years. Our compatriots, after joining the EU, went as cheap labour to Ireland and elsewhere.

@aiga_balode @IvarsAuzins @Broks It wasn't really like that. Public media's exit from the advertising market was a matter-of-course thing.

@RolandsIrklis @Labanovskis One meter - 1000 euros? I would gladly understand how such costs arise, unless that cable has silver or gold strands…

@ZarinsI Better tell me about the industry lobby, what happened with the regulatory proposal to use parallel AST transformers in everyday use, instead of keeping one idle and letting the other one fail at every overload moment? Did they adopt it or not, I haven't been following lately?

Day No. 59 in the prime minister's seat — security, difficult legacies and decisions that can no longer be postponed

@DonnaAsso @AgneseBee The emergency session has been convened for tomorrow at 10:00.

@BSmildzina Logically, low-skilled work anywhere has lower pay. No one is forced to work a job that doesn't satisfy them. No need to write bile and complain about everything. Better focus on improving your skills to live better.

@aiga_balode @IvarsAuzins @Broks Aiga, don't talk about what you don't know. Sadly, I can say that the lion's share of advertising money has flowed and is flowing across the ocean.

I have such an awkward question for all our electricity supply giants. Why do we still have so many power lines that can be torn down by trees felled in a storm, and why haven't these dangerous trees been cut down long ago?

Fulfilling the duties of the Prime Minister, on 24 August at 10:00 I have convened a meeting of the Cabinet Crisis Council to discuss the situation regarding the damage caused by the storm.