Latvia’s populist Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs will face his first electoral test today — but his head start in the polls is unlikely to shield him from coalition headaches in a contest where Ukraine and Russia are looming large.
https://t.co/6uP5QMwXC2
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Tieslietu ministrs
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🇱🇻 In these photos my son grows. And in a sense, so does our Latvia.
Valters and I have a tradition. At every election, one photo at the ballot box. Always together.
In the first photos he is very small - still in my arms. Later he is already standing next to me. Today he is already 14.
And this time, looking at our old photos, one thought struck me: these are the last Saeima elections in which Valters is still standing next to me. In the next ones he will make his choice himself. With his own conviction and his own hand.
Perhaps that is how time is best measured. Not in years, but in how the child we once carried in our arms grows into a person who will have to take responsibility for our Latvian state.
Today I also made my choice - for people and a team that I trust and am convinced can solve the accumulated problems in security, economy, finance, education, health and other matters - for list No. 7, the United List @Apvienotais_ and the prime minister - Andris Kulbergs! @AndrisKulbergs 🌼
But regardless of what your choice is, go and make it.
Because election day is not only about politicians. It is about all of us Latvian patriots, our families and Latvia, which one day we will fully hand over to our children's hands.
Today our hands are still together at the ballot box. Next time - everyone will already have their own voice. 🇱🇻
Day No. 90 in the prime minister's chair (Thursday, Oct 1) – SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL ILL-WISHERS – 80% of the government's work HAS BEEN DONE! A decision on RailBaltica has also been adopted;
📊 79% of the ministers' TOP3 priority tasks — DONE.
Today we reviewed the results of the first four months of the government's work.
Of the 61 priority major TOP3 tasks of ministers, 48 have been completed — 79%.
Of the 106 planned smaller tasks, 88, or 83%, have been achieved.
In the remaining month the government will work, we will complete the remaining 20%.
Among what has been done since the last meeting this month:
- 4 ministers have completed their tasks 100%
o @VARAM_Latvija@Edgars_T main achievement = the election system has been developed and handed over – the mark for the work done will be given by voters on October 3.
o KEM @JanisVitenbergs main task is the launch of the heat market overhaul – the Rīgas Siltums tariff rectification plan with 12 points and clear deadlines.
o @Tieslietas@EdvardsSmiltens prepared the law on the status of 30,000 Ukrainians in Latvia, so they can work and stay after March 1, 2027.
o @EM_gov_lv@valainis completed the simplified construction process (bureaucracy genuinely reduced); fast-track coordination for street vendors and businesses introduced.
✅7 ministers have almost completed their Top3, just 1 completed task short as of today
o @Finmin@MarisKucinskis almost completed all tasks with Tuesday's Finance Ministry report and cost-control measures already by the end of 2026.
o FinMin completed an important task – all procurements will be published from the first €, done ahead of the 2028 date set in law.
o @Iekslietas@janisdombrava submitted a revised migration report and an immigration-fighting plan.
✅Remaining tasks – ministers still have a month left, until November 3:
o 4 tasks require a political decision to be completed;
o 2 tasks depend on the adoption of the new EU MFF multiannual budget;
o 1 task - @veselibasmin@H_AbuMeri the unified appointment system will be completed within a month, once the cybersecurity tests are finished.
Tasks completed in 4 months, in addition to the government declaration:
✅The problem of NGO money-wasting and opaque funding allocation has been brought to the fore. The Finance Ministry has been tasked with developing a clear funding allocation procedure, with an efficiency assessment and the application of an open competition.
✅Suspension of the TET/LMT non-commercial transaction, preparation of a new, transparent solution that meets state interests.
✅Cooperation with FRANCE achieved to strengthen Latvia's security.
✅At the Eastern flank prime ministers' level, support achieved for the €7 billion initiative from the new EU MFF budget, where the justification is to be sought in the impact from the aggressor state in the East and the war in Ukraine.
✅Construction of the 6th stage launched at the airport – the new terminal that had been delayed for years.
✅Cybersecurity – requirements for the security rules of critical infrastructure data centres adopted, work that had not been done for 2.5 years; in this government we did it in 1 month.
o Cybersecurity monitoring equipment installed for 15 critical IT systems https://t.co/3UE7BCYahN for infrastructure protection/monitoring.
✅ICT moratorium – with the support of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, a cartel in state IT procurement has been halted. The imposed procurement moratorium stopped corruption, saved €21 million in the state budget and forced ICT projects worth €130 million to be reassessed, whose usefulness must be evaluated from zero.
✅A historic decision on the centralisation of ICT systems achieved;
✅Operation "VILKATIS" made it possible to neutralise a Russia-organised hybrid attack of illegal migration through Belarus, combining the border guard, the state police, the national armed forces and KVC.
✅OCTA regulation – I have personally been driving amendments in the Saeima for 3 years, so that a traffic accident victim is protected by an insurance guarantee fund if the guilty party flees the scene. In addition, it will be decided that an OCTA accident victim can turn to their own insurer instead of the guilty party as today. This will finally change the historic mistake, shifting the emphasis from the cheapest price to quality.
The government's work is not finished. Until the end of the government's mandate, we will not slow down the pace.
More on #RailBaltica in the next post
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APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Ekonomists (FM ministra birojs)
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From my own experience. In political circles over five years, I have almost never seen moral values. Among those voicing the loudest slogans—not one. But there are some people with moral backbone. It’s not that there are none. That is across the whole political spectrum, as far as I’ve got to know it more closely than on TV.
You have to be there to understand that little will not seem like enough.
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Ekonomists (FM ministra birojs)
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What to vote for? That is a matter of personal choice, a basic principle. We shouldn't try to talk anyone into anything. That is why I don't like campaigning and campaigns as such, where slogan-like promises mostly dominate, the same ones in every election. What do I believe in? Not revolution, but everyday work. I hope that more will be elected not the best speakers (there will always be a majority of such in politics), but at least a dozen deputies with understanding and competence. Even 10+ such would be an achievement.
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Politiķis un žurnālists
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Must agree with both. But I should also note that LSM did not even hesitate in seating the studio guests, placing Vienotība directly behind the debate moderator. I don't know whether Kozlovska's red face in the background was a plus or minus. https://t.co/jCt1FhJUR7
A few subjective notes on tonight's debates. Clear: - Andris Kulbergs is the best orator with a charmingly disarming smile and a perfectly structured speech rhythm. - Juris Pūce is pleasantly businesslike — you can sense he knows the material, and it was lucky for the party that they did not have Ivars Ījābs representing them in the party debates. - Viktors's exaggerated pathos and constant reminders that he will be prime minister justifiably raise doubts. - Šuvajevs, as always — a talkative intellectual with fluent language, but in reality a completely hollow populist. As always. - In politically unpolished language, Alvis sometimes said more than seasoned routine politicians. That was undoubtedly brilliant. - Ainārs has grown, though some phrases from earlier times were heard, he knows the material well and uses the opposition's freedom of expression; a good reaction with a counter-question to Kulbergs about his very unsuccessful question, but the brightest moment of tonight's debates was undoubtedly the question about the enormous corruption in state administration with a reference to criminal liability, not addressing it to JV or Pro, but to Pūce, who is not in the government (and naming the addressee at the end — brilliant!). Juris was really on pause when he received that question. - Once again JV demonstrates its weakness, which it tries to replace with aggressive attacks. Strange tactic. Ašeradens, who has always come and been able to respond with tolerant self-respect in the studio about what JV has done... A wasted opportunity to debate about the state, with a very unsuccessful jab at Jūlija. This genre does not suit Arvil. Bad political technologists are an old V problem (Ēlerte, Ķirsis). - Indriksone is stable, with predictable answers. - Jūlija - knowledgeable, a bit too aggressive, but with huge advantages to use and using them from opposition positions. - It is hard to understand what Svetlana Čulkova was oriented towards tonight - her strong point is short, concise and precise answers that do not irritate the viewer, but that was rare tonight. A feeling that the party is being written off, focusing only on one BY and Ru topic. Rosļikovs was an undeniable leader, without whom the party would go into a bubble. Gundars Rēders, in my opinion, handled the 'prime ministers' well. I can agree with @AnsisPupols that it was a tortured evening circus show, with attempts to entertain the audience with relatively stupid jabs at opponents rather than talking about how to save the squandered state from insolvency. The biggest catastrophe of the evening were the invited, day-before-yesterday's experts who could not contribute to the discussion. Positively, the program ended with a united 'Latvija, Latvija' from the studio, because it is one for all. Good. The shows are over - now to work.
The question didn't let me rest. I turned to AI with a question: which party representatives and exactly which deputies most often abstained in the 14th Saeima election votes. Before you go vote, then look at this, whether your candidate or party is among those who HAVE NO OPINION! Just insanity! https://t.co/ID4P3y2nB8
Day No. 90 in the prime minister's chair (Thursday, Oct 1) – SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL ILL-WISHERS – 80% of the government's work HAS BEEN DONE! A decision on RailBaltica has also been adopted;
📊 79% of the ministers' TOP3 priority tasks — DONE.
Today we reviewed the results of the first four months of the government's work.
Of the 61 priority major TOP3 tasks of ministers, 48 have been completed — 79%.
Of the 106 planned smaller tasks, 88, or 83%, have been achieved.
In the remaining month the government will work, we will complete the remaining 20%.
Among what has been done since the last meeting this month:
- 4 ministers have completed their tasks 100%
o @VARAM_Latvija@Edgars_T main achievement = the election system has been developed and handed over – the mark for the work done will be given by voters on October 3.
o KEM @JanisVitenbergs main task is the launch of the heat market overhaul – the Rīgas Siltums tariff rectification plan with 12 points and clear deadlines.
o @Tieslietas@EdvardsSmiltens prepared the law on the status of 30,000 Ukrainians in Latvia, so they can work and stay after March 1, 2027.
o @EM_gov_lv@valainis completed the simplified construction process (bureaucracy genuinely reduced); fast-track coordination for street vendors and businesses introduced.
✅7 ministers have almost completed their Top3, just 1 completed task short as of today
o @Finmin@MarisKucinskis almost completed all tasks with Tuesday's Finance Ministry report and cost-control measures already by the end of 2026.
o FinMin completed an important task – all procurements will be published from the first €, done ahead of the 2028 date set in law.
o @Iekslietas@janisdombrava submitted a revised migration report and an immigration-fighting plan.
✅Remaining tasks – ministers still have a month left, until November 3:
o 4 tasks require a political decision to be completed;
o 2 tasks depend on the adoption of the new EU MFF multiannual budget;
o 1 task - @veselibasmin@H_AbuMeri the unified appointment system will be completed within a month, once the cybersecurity tests are finished.
Tasks completed in 4 months, in addition to the government declaration:
✅The problem of NGO money-wasting and opaque funding allocation has been brought to the fore. The Finance Ministry has been tasked with developing a clear funding allocation procedure, with an efficiency assessment and the application of an open competition.
✅Suspension of the TET/LMT non-commercial transaction, preparation of a new, transparent solution that meets state interests.
✅Cooperation with FRANCE achieved to strengthen Latvia's security.
✅At the Eastern flank prime ministers' level, support achieved for the €7 billion initiative from the new EU MFF budget, where the justification is to be sought in the impact from the aggressor state in the East and the war in Ukraine.
✅Construction of the 6th stage launched at the airport – the new terminal that had been delayed for years.
✅Cybersecurity – requirements for the security rules of critical infrastructure data centres adopted, work that had not been done for 2.5 years; in this government we did it in 1 month.
o Cybersecurity monitoring equipment installed for 15 critical IT systems https://t.co/3UE7BCYahN for infrastructure protection/monitoring.
✅ICT moratorium – with the support of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, a cartel in state IT procurement has been halted. The imposed procurement moratorium stopped corruption, saved €21 million in the state budget and forced ICT projects worth €130 million to be reassessed, whose usefulness must be evaluated from zero.
✅A historic decision on the centralisation of ICT systems achieved;
✅Operation "VILKATIS" made it possible to neutralise a Russia-organised hybrid attack of illegal migration through Belarus, combining the border guard, the state police, the national armed forces and KVC.
✅OCTA regulation – I have personally been driving amendments in the Saeima for 3 years, so that a traffic accident victim is protected by an insurance guarantee fund if the guilty party flees the scene. In addition, it will be decided that an OCTA accident victim can turn to their own insurer instead of the guilty party as today. This will finally change the historic mistake, shifting the emphasis from the cheapest price to quality.
The government's work is not finished. Until the end of the government's mandate, we will not slow down the pace.
More on #RailBaltica in the next post
1/2
A couple of subjective remarks about tonight’s debates.
Unambiguously:
- Andris Kulbergs is the best orator with a charmingly disarming smile and a perfectly built speech rhythm.
- Juris Pūce is pleasantly businesslike — you can sense he knows his stuff, and it was a lucky choice that Ivars Ījābs did not represent the party in the party debates.
- Viktors’ exaggerated pathos and constant reminders that he will be prime minister justifiably make one doubt,
- Šuvajevs as always — a talking Excellency, with fluent language, but in fact a populist of a completely empty shell. As always.
- In a politically unpolished language, Alvis at times said more than the experienced routine politicians. That was undeniably brilliant.
- Ainārs has grown, although phrases from earlier times can be heard; he knows the material well and has an oppositionist’s freedom of expression, a good reaction with a counter-question to Kulbergs on a very unfortunate question, but the brightest moment of tonight’s debates was undoubtedly the question about the enormous corruption in state administration with a reference to criminal liability, without addressing it to either JV or Pro, but to Pūce, who is not in the government (and naming the addressee at the end — brilliant!). Juris was literally on pause when he received that question.
- For the umpteenth time JV demonstrates its weakness, which it tries to replace with attacking aggression. Strange tactics. Ašeradens, who has always come and been able in the studio to shoot back with tolerant self-respect for what JV has done .... A wasted opportunity to debate about the state, with a very unsuccessful jab at Jūlija. This genre does not suit Arvils. Bad political technologists are an old V problem (Ēlerte, Ķirsis),
- Indriksone is stable, with predictable answers.
- Jūlija — knowledgeable, a little too aggressive, but with enormous advantages to use, and she does so from opposition positions.
- It is hard to understand what Svetlana Čulkova was oriented towards tonight — her strong point is short, laconic and precise answers that do not irritate the viewer, but that was rare tonight. There is a feeling that the party is being written off, fixating only on one BY and Ru topic. Rosļikovs was an undeniable leader, without whom the party goes down the bubble.
Gundars Rēders, in my opinion, coped well with the “prime ministers”.
One can agree with @AnsisPupols that it was a tormented evening circus show, with attempts to entertain the audience with rather stupid jabs at opponents rather than talking — how to save the plundered state from insolvency.
The biggest catastrophe of the evening was the invited, day-before-yesterday experts, who were unable to contribute to the discussion.
It is positive that the broadcast ended with the united “Latvia, Latvia” sounding in the studio, because it is one for all.
That is good.
The shows are over — now to work.
I am listening to the prime minister candidate interviews on @KNL_LTV1. Thank you @JanisDomburs for convincing me to vote for @AndrisKulbergs and @Apvienotais_. JD has for the first time lost his intellectual superiority and jumps from one question to another. Bravo AK for pragmatism and directness.
Day No. 90 in the prime minister's chair (Thursday, Oct 1) – SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL ILL-WISHERS – 80% of the government's work HAS BEEN DONE! A decision on RailBaltica has also been adopted;
📊 79% of the ministers' TOP3 priority tasks — DONE.
Today we reviewed the results of the first four months of the government's work.
Of the 61 priority major TOP3 tasks of ministers, 48 have been completed — 79%.
Of the 106 planned smaller tasks, 88, or 83%, have been achieved.
In the remaining month the government will work, we will complete the remaining 20%.
Among what has been done since the last meeting this month:
- 4 ministers have completed their tasks 100%
o @VARAM_Latvija@Edgars_T main achievement = the election system has been developed and handed over – the mark for the work done will be given by voters on October 3.
o KEM @JanisVitenbergs main task is the launch of the heat market overhaul – the Rīgas Siltums tariff rectification plan with 12 points and clear deadlines.
o @Tieslietas@EdvardsSmiltens prepared the law on the status of 30,000 Ukrainians in Latvia, so they can work and stay after March 1, 2027.
o @EM_gov_lv@valainis completed the simplified construction process (bureaucracy genuinely reduced); fast-track coordination for street vendors and businesses introduced.
✅7 ministers have almost completed their Top3, just 1 completed task short as of today
o @Finmin@MarisKucinskis almost completed all tasks with Tuesday's Finance Ministry report and cost-control measures already by the end of 2026.
o FinMin completed an important task – all procurements will be published from the first €, done ahead of the 2028 date set in law.
o @Iekslietas@janisdombrava submitted a revised migration report and an immigration-fighting plan.
✅Remaining tasks – ministers still have a month left, until November 3:
o 4 tasks require a political decision to be completed;
o 2 tasks depend on the adoption of the new EU MFF multiannual budget;
o 1 task - @veselibasmin@H_AbuMeri the unified appointment system will be completed within a month, once the cybersecurity tests are finished.
Tasks completed in 4 months, in addition to the government declaration:
✅The problem of NGO money-wasting and opaque funding allocation has been brought to the fore. The Finance Ministry has been tasked with developing a clear funding allocation procedure, with an efficiency assessment and the application of an open competition.
✅Suspension of the TET/LMT non-commercial transaction, preparation of a new, transparent solution that meets state interests.
✅Cooperation with FRANCE achieved to strengthen Latvia's security.
✅At the Eastern flank prime ministers' level, support achieved for the €7 billion initiative from the new EU MFF budget, where the justification is to be sought in the impact from the aggressor state in the East and the war in Ukraine.
✅Construction of the 6th stage launched at the airport – the new terminal that had been delayed for years.
✅Cybersecurity – requirements for the security rules of critical infrastructure data centres adopted, work that had not been done for 2.5 years; in this government we did it in 1 month.
o Cybersecurity monitoring equipment installed for 15 critical IT systems https://t.co/3UE7BCYahN for infrastructure protection/monitoring.
✅ICT moratorium – with the support of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, a cartel in state IT procurement has been halted. The imposed procurement moratorium stopped corruption, saved €21 million in the state budget and forced ICT projects worth €130 million to be reassessed, whose usefulness must be evaluated from zero.
✅A historic decision on the centralisation of ICT systems achieved;
✅Operation "VILKATIS" made it possible to neutralise a Russia-organised hybrid attack of illegal migration through Belarus, combining the border guard, the state police, the national armed forces and KVC.
✅OCTA regulation – I have personally been driving amendments in the Saeima for 3 years, so that a traffic accident victim is protected by an insurance guarantee fund if the guilty party flees the scene. In addition, it will be decided that an OCTA accident victim can turn to their own insurer instead of the guilty party as today. This will finally change the historic mistake, shifting the emphasis from the cheapest price to quality.
The government's work is not finished. Until the end of the government's mandate, we will not slow down the pace.
More on #RailBaltica in the next post
1/2
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Ministru prezidents
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Day No. 90 in the prime minister's chair (Thursday, Oct 1) – SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL ILL-WISHERS – 80% of the government's work HAS BEEN DONE! A decision on RailBaltica has also been adopted;
📊 79% of the ministers' TOP3 priority tasks — DONE.
Today we reviewed the results of the first four months of the government's work.
Of the 61 priority major TOP3 tasks of ministers, 48 have been completed — 79%.
Of the 106 planned smaller tasks, 88, or 83%, have been achieved.
In the remaining month the government will work, we will complete the remaining 20%.
Among what has been done since the last meeting this month:
- 4 ministers have completed their tasks 100%
o @VARAM_Latvija@Edgars_T main achievement = the election system has been developed and handed over – the mark for the work done will be given by voters on October 3.
o KEM @JanisVitenbergs main task is the launch of the heat market overhaul – the Rīgas Siltums tariff rectification plan with 12 points and clear deadlines.
o @Tieslietas@EdvardsSmiltens prepared the law on the status of 30,000 Ukrainians in Latvia, so they can work and stay after March 1, 2027.
o @EM_gov_lv@valainis completed the simplified construction process (bureaucracy genuinely reduced); fast-track coordination for street vendors and businesses introduced.
✅7 ministers have almost completed their Top3, just 1 completed task short as of today
o @Finmin@MarisKucinskis almost completed all tasks with Tuesday's Finance Ministry report and cost-control measures already by the end of 2026.
o FinMin completed an important task – all procurements will be published from the first €, done ahead of the 2028 date set in law.
o @Iekslietas@janisdombrava submitted a revised migration report and an immigration-fighting plan.
✅Remaining tasks – ministers still have a month left, until November 3:
o 4 tasks require a political decision to be completed;
o 2 tasks depend on the adoption of the new EU MFF multiannual budget;
o 1 task - @veselibasmin@H_AbuMeri the unified appointment system will be completed within a month, once the cybersecurity tests are finished.
Tasks completed in 4 months, in addition to the government declaration:
✅The problem of NGO money-wasting and opaque funding allocation has been brought to the fore. The Finance Ministry has been tasked with developing a clear funding allocation procedure, with an efficiency assessment and the application of an open competition.
✅Suspension of the TET/LMT non-commercial transaction, preparation of a new, transparent solution that meets state interests.
✅Cooperation with FRANCE achieved to strengthen Latvia's security.
✅At the Eastern flank prime ministers' level, support achieved for the €7 billion initiative from the new EU MFF budget, where the justification is to be sought in the impact from the aggressor state in the East and the war in Ukraine.
✅Construction of the 6th stage launched at the airport – the new terminal that had been delayed for years.
✅Cybersecurity – requirements for the security rules of critical infrastructure data centres adopted, work that had not been done for 2.5 years; in this government we did it in 1 month.
o Cybersecurity monitoring equipment installed for 15 critical IT systems https://t.co/3UE7BCYahN for infrastructure protection/monitoring.
✅ICT moratorium – with the support of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, a cartel in state IT procurement has been halted. The imposed procurement moratorium stopped corruption, saved €21 million in the state budget and forced ICT projects worth €130 million to be reassessed, whose usefulness must be evaluated from zero.
✅A historic decision on the centralisation of ICT systems achieved;
✅Operation "VILKATIS" made it possible to neutralise a Russia-organised hybrid attack of illegal migration through Belarus, combining the border guard, the state police, the national armed forces and KVC.
✅OCTA regulation – I have personally been driving amendments in the Saeima for 3 years, so that a traffic accident victim is protected by an insurance guarantee fund if the guilty party flees the scene. In addition, it will be decided that an OCTA accident victim can turn to their own insurer instead of the guilty party as today. This will finally change the historic mistake, shifting the emphasis from the cheapest price to quality.
The government's work is not finished. Until the end of the government's mandate, we will not slow down the pace.
More on #RailBaltica in the next post
1/2