Latvian Political Monitor

@ParaTr00per That has never been... to be honest, don't promise what isn't there.

@Broks Almost no political force thinks about the economy and earning money, except us. 100% of them think about dividing up the money.

Day No. 56 in the prime minister's chair – an eclipse in the sky, but the government needs more clarity 🌒☀️

Night drone incident! Thank you to the National Armed Forces and NATO allies for their professional and operational response, successfully destroying the unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Latvian airspace in the middle of the night. Units are currently searching the area. Leadership is in contact with Balvi Municipality. We will inform you as soon as additional information is available. This is proof that Latvia's airspace is being protected. At the same time, such incidents remind us that we must continue to strengthen Latvia's eastern border surveillance and counter-drone capabilities in order to detect, identify, and neutralize any potential threat as quickly as possible.

@DievaSuns Without superfluous justifications to Kulbis, show what substantial can be done in two and a half months.

🤝 Close cooperation between the state and local government so that decisions are practical and understandable to residents. With the chairman of Ropaži Municipality, Aivars Draudiņš, we discussed several topical issues: 🔹 The asylum seeker accommodation centre “Mucenieki” – clear and sustainable solutions are needed for the centre’s future operation, taking into account both the safety of residents and the interests of the municipality, as well as the state’s responsibility. 🔹 Orphan court reform – it is important to improve the work of orphan courts and strengthen the protection of children’s rights, clearly dividing responsibility between the state and local governments and reducing the administrative burden. 🔹 Cadastral value reform – it is necessary to ensure a fair, understandable and predictable cadastral assessment system so that changes do not create a disproportionate burden on residents and local governments.

@io7246 @inesevoika Well, Domburs doesn't have it either...

@LaSarikov @te_anastasija You probably didn't know that the Prime Minister doesn't have working hours. The Prime Minister is working 24/7 nonstop.

An office with only 17 people that daily ensures the assaying of precious metals and stones according to international quality standards – the state enterprise 'Latvian Assay Office'. Today a valuable conversation about what has been done so far and what remains to be done.

And still hundreds of burned Christian churches around the world - in Canada alone the number is already approaching a hundred… https://t.co/lKQpBxXhsM

I do not deny the importance of such a question, I fully respect such a desire, because the public needs to know. I just feel strange that in the program no questions are asked at all about the priorities of the whole society: No.1 HEALTH, No.2 COST OF LIVING, No.3 ECONOMY, No.4 SECURITY, No.5 EDUCATION, and above all about the budget, deficit, and aligning revenues with expenditures. The first and only question was asked about the Istanbul Convention. Thank you for inviting me as the first, and good luck with the next prime minister candidates.

Here are the real losses to the company, which someone should have to repay, and many should start preparing dry biscuits. Oh, but we are in Latvia after all… https://t.co/Ep26A2POHA

Day No. 55 in the Prime Minister's seat. A dense day with real work in combating illegal immigration, controlling ministers' work, and evaluating the AirBaltic Strategic Plan. 🐺OPERATION 'VILKATIS' - In the morning, at a press conference we introduced the media to a new operation for the security of Latvia's eastern border. After five years of fighting illegal migrants, we are turning against the causes, not the consequences - using human resources and equipment more effectively. The Cabinet of Ministers today decided to establish a special working group, coordinating actions with Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and other countries in the region. If specific measures take place in a particular area, residents will be informed. Thanks for cooperation to the Interior and Defense ministers. We prove once again that only by working as a strong team can we achieve a result. Why the name 'VILKATIS'? Because it's Latvian and with strength. Strange interview @letanewslv - the questioning of PM candidates 'WHAT WAS THAT AT ALL?' - I want to ask what that really was??? It's good that politicians are made to report, but somehow there was totally a lack of even one question about the future, about what I plan to do... I still don't understand what they wanted to tell the viewer. https://t.co/kKbJUSOE97 📋 MINISTERS TOP3 WORKS PROGRESS - At the action discussion we reviewed the implementation of priority works. 7 priority measures completed, 26 activity results - from cooperation with Ukraine in the defense sector to reducing medicine prices and a decision on hospital network reorganization. In September, 9 more are planned to be completed. We have left a lot to the last moment, BUT positively, the ministers approach it with responsibility. The most important task for the ministers is to complete ALL works before the elections. I told the ministers - I am available if support is needed. There is little time. We must focus on priorities. That's why there is no more time for populism and topics that are not Cabinet-level issues. If the approach doesn't change - in the future I will include only Declaration issues in Cabinet meetings, because this government's term of office is limited. ✈️ AIRBALTIC - In the closed part of the government meeting, we heard the Transport Ministry's report on AirBaltic. A good plan for me means five specific things: private partners provide new financing, the state maintains significant participation, Riga remains the main base, no new state financing is needed, and a strategic investor is attracted. If these five conditions are met - that is a plan the market also believes in, not just one that looks good on paper. Is that how it is now? In any case, the company must be put back on 'solid feet'. The current problems are the result of ill-considered decisions made in previous years. After that followed many different questions that we discussed in both the open and closed parts of the meeting. I will share some of them. 🙋 NOT ALLOW VOLUNTEER WORK AT BUSINESSES? - We discussed such a proposal. In my opinion, absurd!!!! Young people want practice, are ready to work without remuneration - that's exactly how they gain experience. With such a regulation we exclude the possibility to do so, for example, helping to organize concerts, festivals or sports events, etc. Currently there is no generally regulated form of how a young person can gain experience in a company without an employment contract. But should volunteer work be banned altogether because of that? All that needs to be done to remove shadow economy risks is for SRS to develop a solution. 📜 PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANIZATION LAW - This made me smile. One organization demands paid membership in a commission, the establishment of which is determined by the Saeima. The purpose of the law - to reduce the bureaucratic burden, simplifying the approval of commissions. FULLY SUPPORT. But SRS already has its own control mechanism. It is clear that SRS can decide independently. Also without a commission. 💻DIGITAL GOVERNANCE - In the government, together with Edgars Tavars and VARAM we continued improving Digital Services. We agreed in the Cabinet of Ministers on the European digital identity 'wallet' (EDIM) - a voluntary tool that will not fully replace identity documents, but will include e-address functionality. 🏗️We approved VARAM's initiative in procurement, the possibility to use ready-made, market-available solutions. This will allow trying out the rarely used 'design dialogue' procurement form. ⚠️'SILENE' AND 'VIENTUĻI' equipping feasibility - We heard Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis. The project is good, but I am concerned about the ICT costs that add up. The task - SM together with FM, IeM and VARAM to evaluate the costs.

The path to reconciliation begins with a conversation! 🗣️ Justice is not only punishment. Justice is also the opportunity to turn responsibility into change. Today in Victory Park we launched the “The path to reconciliation begins with a conversation” campaign by @Tieslietas and @probacija and a large-format street art piece created especially for it. Why is it important to talk about this? Because society's attitude shows a significant contradiction. 📊 89% of Latvia's residents believe that after an offense a person should be given the opportunity to change and live an honest life. 📊 84% believe everyone deserves a second chance if they have taken responsibility for their actions. 📉 However, only 32% believe that the majority of probation clients are motivated to change their lives and not repeat the offense. Meanwhile, 53% see public condemnation of probation clients. These numbers raise an important question – do we really believe that a person can change after a mistake? An offense is not simply an everyday mistake. One must take responsibility for what has been done. But responsibility does not mean only serving the punishment. It also means acknowledging what was done, listening to the victim, reducing the consequences of the offense, and doing everything to ensure the offense is not repeated. Because our goal is not only to make sure a person receives punishment for what they did. Our goal must also be to ensure they never repeat this offense again.

@Uldis113 NATO and OECD countries

We are strengthening cooperation between the state and municipalities! 🤝 Today with @lps_lv we agreed on further work on four issues important to municipalities and residents. 🏠 1. Social correction system and Safe House for Children and Young People ⚖️ 2. Reform of the operation of municipal administrative commissions 🛡️ 3. Timely reduction of risks for children and young people 🏡 4. Improvement of the cadastral valuation system 💬 State and municipal cooperation must be aimed at a concrete result – a safer environment for children, a clearer system for municipalities and modern solutions for residents. More: https://t.co/xfJW6pZYpn

⚖️ FASTER PATH TO ADVOCACY Today the Cabinet of Ministers supported the Ministry of Justice's proposal to reduce the required time in the status of a sworn advocate's assistant from five to three years. This means that qualified lawyers who have gained the necessary knowledge, skills, and professional experience will be able to apply for the status of a sworn advocate faster. 👉 At the same time, professional requirements are not reduced. The requirements for the attorney exam, as well as the requirements for the admission, preparation, and supervision of assistants, remain unchanged. We will also expand opportunities to become an advocate's assistant – one sworn advocate will be able to have up to two assistants, while the required seniority for an advocate to become a patron will be reduced from seven to five years. This will particularly expand opportunities in the regions. ℹ️ The draft law “Amendments to the Latvian Republic Advocacy Law” will be submitted for consideration to the Saeima.

Starting today, the illegal immigrant interception operation 'VILKATIS' is being launched, involving border guard, police, armed forces, and service personnel. Purposeful cooperation between @janisdombrava and R.Melnis @AizsardzibasMin. The operation will be coordinated by the KVC (Crisis Management Centre) under my supervision. Together we must demonstrate that we can stop the hybrid attack of 🇷🇺 and 🇧🇾 migrants on our state border. The activities of migrant organisers will be purposefully combated - transport, asylum organisation, coordination. We will ask international allies to stop the global financing model of the network. We will regularly inform the public about progress, every Tuesday after the Cabinet of Ministers. We ask residents to be understanding when encountering greater presence of services and checks. Please do not worry if you see more intensive drone and transport presence in the border area and elsewhere. If you have questions or see suspicious activity - report to 112