Latvian Political Monitor

From@nralv

What is it like to be prime minister before the Saeima elections, what is happening to our state administration, and what will happen if we continue to grow the external debt – watch political scientist Filips Rajevskis' conversation with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (“United List”) on the portal https://t.co/WM2sIldVYi! https://t.co/yjIJ3Is2Qj

Open referenced post

From@suvajevs

In four years, I have rarely seen such great political cowardice as the United List and the National Alliance showed today. Supported for further review are both Šlesers' latest nightmares in the Constitution and Šlesers' attempts to influence an independent judiciary.

Open referenced post

From@jaunups

Strong municipal supervision is in the interests of residents. Not that populist talk from AS or ZZS that municipalities are “untouchable”. Municipalities must not break the law, ignore society’s long-term interests, or ignore common sense. But that is exactly what the above-mentioned want. If such amendments had been adopted 5 years ago, Ušakovs would be mayor of Riga and the “big” ministers would be throwing up their hands and making backroom deals.

Open referenced post

From@ErlendsBB

THE OLD MASTER GUARDS THE TROUGH Look carefully at what Finance Minister Māris Kučinskis @MarisKucinskis says. Don't listen to what he promises, but what he actually says. This video is ready-made teaching material on how an old master of the system lobbies bureaucracy before the elections. The minister himself calculates: if everyone in the state administration is cut by 10%, we get 130 million. And he immediately adds that we need 900 million, so that alone won't solve anything. Wait. 130 million is suddenly "nothing"? That is taxpayers' money, and it is paid every year. If a roof leaks in ten places, you still patch the first hole. You don't say you'll patch nothing because the roof still won't be dry after one patch. Only someone who doesn't want to climb onto the roof talks like that. Deficit-free budget? The minister says this is cruel cutting that will slow down the economy. Which economy? The one that lives off state orders, projects, and consulting contracts. An entrepreneur who earns on their own is much more hurt by taxes with which these holes will later be patched. A family that spends more than it earns can also say that thrift slows their standard of living. Until the debt collector knocks on the door. And then the best part: the middle path. Reforms and fiscal stability in four years. Structural reforms, strict frameworks, everyone gets their assignment. Translated from bureaucratic language: nothing will happen. Four years is exactly one Saeima. Reforms will sit in working groups, frameworks will wait for approval, and the assignment will be for everyone, hence for no one. That's not the middle path. That's treading water. No wonder. Kučinskis is no new force. He was prime minister; he built this system with his own hands. A person who has built a crooked house will not tear it down just because you show him cracks in the walls. He will tell you why cracks are normal. Many in Latvia trust Kulbergs @AndrisKulbergs. I understand. But Kulbergs should remember that it was precisely his right-hand man Kučinskis who presented the report on reducing the NGO sector in the Cabinet of Ministers. The same work that Kulbergs himself called a pile of document shit. So either Kulbergs doesn't know what his own minister is doing, or he knows and is satisfied. Both options are bad. I no longer have illusions. The United List @Apvienotais_ is not a force for change. It is the next bureaucracy lobby that will sit down in New Unity's place with great pleasure and gratitude. Different sign, same chair, same trough. Latvia does not need another "middle path". It needs people who reduce the state administration, not guard it. And it needs an electoral system in which you can choose a specific person and not get Kučinskis as a bonus. We change the rules · @partijaMMN #MēsMaināmNoteikumus #15Saeima

Open referenced post

From@CerinsAivis

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

Open referenced post

From@AndrisKulbergs

Day No. 76 in the prime minister's seat (Tuesday) – Cabinet meeting already with -1 minister 😏 I returned from Lapland, but the Cabinet of Ministers has become one minister smaller during this time. 🏛️ Cabinet meeting – getting more and more amusing. The approach of elections can already be felt in almost every coalition partnership. The first government meeting with -1 minister – Uzulnieks is replaced by Augulis, but since Valainis is on a business trip, Augulis actually represented as many as 3 ZZS ministries today. 😄 🌾🚂🇷🇺 grains and Latvian farmers' exports We adopted a decision to increase the railway infrastructure fee for 🇷🇺 grain cargo. Our priority – export of Latvian farmers' products and the competitiveness of our own entrepreneurs. 📏 60 m² of land and the absurdity of bureaucracy Today I learned about yet another bureaucratic nonsense. The state is disposing of 60 m² of land, for which the owner is paid approximately €23, because that is the value of the land. But to carry out this transaction: ➖️ an appraisal costs about €200–300; ➖️ land surveying – another €1000–2000; ➖️ additionally, surveyor costs come on top. This is total nonsense. I tasked the Minister of Justice, Mr. Smiltēns, to immediately look for a solution and remove this unnecessary bureaucracy in cases where such small plots of land are involved. 🚌 €9.8 million to intercity bus operators We adopted a decision to pay bus operators €9.8 million in debt for intercity bus services. This problem has been dragging on unresolved for more than the tenure of two transport ministers of the previous government. At the same time, I tasked the Minister of Transport to bring a long-term solution already in October. Companies must know under what rules to work and how to plan their business further – they cannot live in uncertainty every year. 🎙️ LDDK/LTRK prime ministerial debates @AlvisHermanis1 did not come to the debate. Pity, because this was the right place to defend your ideas and position. I specifically wanted to hear: ➖️ what his plan for Latvia's economic growth is; ➖️ how to attract more investment; ➖️ how to increase Latvia's exports. I also find interesting the publicly voiced reproaches to LDDK and @LTRK_uznemeji about labor migration. Here, however, one should rely on facts, not loud slogans. 📊 Looking at the data on the so-called "pseudo student" problem, it is concentrated in specific universities – and @RostovskisA Turība is not among them. Whereas @darbadeveji itself does not in any way promote illegal migration. Also, for example, the Karavela led by @AndrisBite employs third-country workers legally and in a relatively small volume – mainly because in Latvia there simply are not people willing to do such physically demanding work. 👉 Migration must be discussed seriously. But more importantly – based on data, facts, and the real situation, not statements.

Open referenced post

From@karlis_serzants

On TikTok, they're telling at length how bad the Waterfront project is. I agree, Andris! But… it's a project accepted by the Riga municipality, and the municipality is currently led by the mayor from Progresīvie. So maybe you should also do something—fight, cancel the permits, and don't build the infrastructure…

Open referenced post