Latvian Political Monitor

From@nralv

“We bought the equipment, forgot to buy the ammunition!” Kulbergs furious about what is happening in the defense sector https://t.co/kCPR08njfC

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From@GunaGavrilko

Good afternoon! Liepāja Airport is a very significant military infrastructure object, whose financing was started during the previous government. Here is the news about 2025 https://t.co/WjNMEoZMx1

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From@AndrisKulbergs

Day No. 53 in the prime minister's chair (Friday, Aug 7) – unofficial visit to Liepāja, Grobiņa, Nīca 😊 I visited entrepreneurs, manufacturers, farmers, municipal deputies, market ladies, residents, the crazy Liepāja folk ⚙️ RK Metal – Grobiņa A modern metalworking company with around 200 employees producing high-level metal structures, equipment, and specialized solutions for export. Here the problem of labor costs was again very clearly voiced. 🤒 From the entrepreneurs' point of view, a big problem is the abuse of the sick leave system and how much of the sick period is covered by the employer. ⏱ The second topic – 100% surcharge for overtime and complex bureaucracy to introduce more flexible solutions in the company. By comparison, we also talked about 🇸🇪Sweden, where in some cases the overtime surcharge model is more flexible. A welder's salary in Latvia has already approached the level I once saw in 🇳🇱 the Netherlands, having worked 13 years in the equipment manufacturing industry. This shows very well how serious the skilled labor problem has become in Latvia. ❤️ RŪRE Care Home This was a very personal visit for me. RŪRE once allowed my cousin Mārtiņš Lauva to live out his last days with dignity and helped fulfill his final wishes. That is why I know the value of mobile hospice services not from documents but personally. And I am seriously concerned that the Ministry of Health's ill-considered planning and conditions could jeopardize a system that Latvia could rightly be proud of in recent years. RŪRE has simultaneously taken on a huge risk by developing five regional healthcare centers in Kurzeme in a short time. The problem is again the same – delayed state planning, extremely short deadlines and bureaucracy. As a result, there is a risk of not using millions of euros of 🇪🇺EU funding. 🏗 Liepāja SEZ – industrial park on the former 'Metalurgs' territory We talked about: ➖️ industrial territory development; ➖️ military industry opportunities; ➖️ new production plants; ➖️ labor availability. In Liepāja unemployment is historically very low – around 4%, with only about 1,737 unemployed people. That's good, but it creates another problem for entrepreneurs – there is no one to hire. There is a particular shortage of technical specialists. Here the weakness of our education system in STEM subjects – mathematics, physics, engineering – is strongly felt. 🏠 The second problem – the lack of housing stock. Even if a company finds a specialist in another Latvian city, the person often has nowhere normal to live in Liepāja. Among development projects – also YOKOHAMA's plan to create a tire plant in addition to the existing alloy wheel production. 📦 CALJAN – from Liepāja to the whole world This is one of the companies Latvia should truly be proud of. CALJAN produces high-level logistics and small-parcel conveyor systems for global clients such as: Amazon, FedEx, UPS, DPD, DHL, Walmart and others. 🌍 About 30,000 units have already been delivered worldwide. And the most impressive thing – the company has relocated its: ➖️ R&D; ➖️ engineering; ➖️ production; ➖️ head office from 🇸🇪 Sweden to Liepāja. This is exactly the Latvian economic model I want to see more of – not cheap labor, but knowledge, engineering, technology and global exports. 👷 CALJAN employs around 410 people. But they too can no longer find enough workers in Latvia. About 40 people are already being hired through a 🇱🇹Lithuanian labor leasing company – including engineers, programmers and electricians from 🇮🇳 India and the Philippines. And the money for labor intermediation goes to Lithuanian companies, not stays in Latvia. 🏛 Meeting at Liepāja City Council @liepaja With the city leadership we discussed: ➖️ The Local Government Financial Equalization Fund; ➖️ Liepāja's development; ➖️ The Port Law and its further progress. ✈️ NORSAF – green aviation fuel project A very ambitious idea – producing future synthetic aviation fuel in Liepāja using green hydrogen. 🇪🇺 In the coming years, aviation will face increasingly strict requirements for sustainable aviation fuel blending – in 2030, 2035, 2040 and beyond. At the moment, however, the technology is still extremely expensive. 💶 Approximate: ➖️ new fuel – €7,000/t; ➖️ traditional Jet Fuel – around €1,500/t; ➖️ before the Hormuz crisis – around €600–800/t. This shows how huge a technological and economic leap is still needed. 🥒 Liepāja Market I'll be honest – I liked it more than Rīga Central Market. 😄 Cozier, more Latvian, and with a feeling that there are more local producers. In the shopping basket: 🍞 very good bread baked in Liepāja; 🍗 Rubeņi smoked chicken; 🥒 lightly salted cucumbers; 🍄 and, of course, chanterelles – because I have no time to go to the forest myself. ☹️ 📺 In between, also an interview with Liepāja TV. - about MP compensation 🏭 Liepāja Papīrs An impressive Latvian-level plant specializing in printing adhesive labels. 👷 Around 120 employees. The company invests very actively in modern production equipment and automation. Not because they don't want people, but because there simply aren't any. Training a new specialist takes up to two years. Hence, the labor shortage effectively forces companies to invest in technologies that allow them to produce more with fewer workers. 📦 Due to the Hormuz Strait conflict, the company has purchased about twice as much paper stock to ensure continuity of production. This in turn means more money frozen in the warehouse and pressure on production costs. 🖨 FORTIUS – printing house A smaller local printing and labeling company. And such companies are also very necessary – almost every city needs its own local printer that can quickly serve small and individual orders. 🥛 Kazdanga company “Baltu Piens” Two enterprising women joined forces, mortgaged their properties and used ALTUM financing to buy a farm. This story is also personally close to me, because my wife's parents live in Kazdanga. But the numbers raise very serious questions. 💶 The loan principal has been repaid about €50,000, but €39,713 has already been paid in interest. The interest rate – almost 9%. Moreover, to review the loan repayment schedule, ALTUM requires an additional fixed payment of 0.5% of the remaining amount. Then my question is simple: Is ALTUM's task not to be a state development financial institution that helps companies grow? If state funding conditions weaken a company more than help it develop, something is wrong with the system. Moreover, the new farm managers still need to invest about €459,000 in treatment facilities that the previous owners had not fixed. 🏎 Garage 1965 – Latvian rally history museum For all petrolheads – a must-see! 🔥 A very enjoyable museum. In Liepāja not only 'the wind is born' – there are very deep roots of Latvian rally and motorcycle sport. 👥 Meeting with Liepāja residents at the Latvian Society House 👥 Meeting with residents in Nīca 🧀 Nīca cheese and ZS “Skrodis” Again the seasonal labor problem. Vegetable and berry growers need people for specific seasonal work, but existing rules make attracting labor extremely complicated and expensive. Entrepreneurs point out that the set €1,700 salary threshold for attracting foreign labor for this type of work is too high and, given current agricultural product prices, makes production costs uncompetitive. And the reality in the countryside is harsh – local people often cannot be found even for such pay. Young people simply don't come to cut cabbage or pick berries. 🧀 But the cheese – seriously – one of the best I've tasted in Latvia. 🌅 End of the day – Red Sun Buffet Beach Bar Meeting with the owner, who has run a family business on the Liepāja seaside for 17 seasons, working both summer and winter. Here, too, the reality of the Latvian labor market is very clearly visible. 🇺🇦 Ukrainian families work at the company, engaging in work across several generations. They serve clients in Latvian, but the Ukrainian women have also introduced their own delicious traditions to the menu. 🎶 And every evening – live music with high-level musicians. What did I take from these two regional days? 🇱🇻 In Latvia we have fantastic entrepreneurs, farmers and manufacturers. They invest. Take risks. Export. Invent. Build factories. Take over markets. Create jobs. But at almost every stop I heard the same words: ⚠️ bureaucracy; ⚠️ labor shortage; ⚠️ tax and labor costs; ⚠️ slow state decisions; ⚠️ ill-considered regulation; ⚠️ difficulties obtaining financing; ⚠️ officials' fear of taking responsibility. The state's task should not be to train entrepreneurs in an obstacle course. The state's task is to create an environment where a person ready to risk, invest and create jobs can do so. For me, such visits are far more valuable than dozens of presentations in Rīga. Because only in a factory, in a field, in a warehouse, on a farm or at an entrepreneur's table can you understand what actually works in Latvia and what urgently needs fixing. @Apvienotais_

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From@ltvzinas

Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (NA) has sent a letter to Spain regarding the border crisis in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of people broke in from Morocco. In Madrid, this letter has been received sensitively. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) has admonished the interior minister that in future, when communicating with foreign countries, the content must be coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 🖥️ https://t.co/RfuXaQN2zF

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From@Apvienotais_

At today's press conference, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs informed about the most important decisions taken at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting. The government's priority is to reduce heating tariffs both in the near term and long term. It is planned to streamline the management of heating supply systems by transferring water heating boilers from 'Latvenergo' to the company 'Rīgas Siltums' so that 'Latvenergo' can focus more on electricity production. At the same time, the tariff calculation methodology will be reviewed with the aim of making heat in Riga one of the cheapest among Baltic capitals. To protect the rights of real estate owners, the Ministry of Justice is developing a new procedure that will provide that a person's registration in a property is possible only with the owner's consent. The system will be simple - the owner will be able to confirm registration electronically. The government also agreed to review the temporary residence permit system, as the current regulation no longer corresponds to the current situation. A new model will be developed using the experience of other European countries to attract investment and strengthen Latvia's economy. The Ministry of Defence has found a legal solution to land use issues that will allow more efficient deployment of radars and air defense systems. This is a significant step in strengthening the protection of Latvia's airspace and improving national security. #APVIENOTAISSARAKSTS #MK #Lēmumi #AndrisKulbergs

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From@AndrisKulbergs

Day No. 41 in the prime minister's seat – inspection of Latvia's border with 🇷🇺 and 🇧🇾 Together with Interior Minister @janisdombrava and Defense Minister R.Melnis, we set out on a two-day trip to inspect Latvia's eastern border and see firsthand its readiness for possible provocations by the aggressor, as well as its ability to stop the flow of pseudo-migrants organized by 🇷🇺 at the 🇧🇾 border. On Friday, with the NBS Air Force and the US-supplied Black Hawk military helicopter, we flew to Latvia's external border with 🇷🇺. Throughout the flight, I listened to the pilots' communication with the dispatch center and concluded that aviation communications have much in common with a family doctor's handwritten referral — at first you can't understand anything from either. Obviously, special training is needed. 😄 We flew to Balvi, then to Viļaka and the 'Vientuļi' border crossing, then along the Latvia–🇷🇺 border towards Kārsava. ZS 'Amatnieki–Riekstiņi' We landed at the farm ZS 'Amatnieki–Riekstiņi', whose managed land area reaches 5,500 hectares. A large part of the land borders directly on 🇷🇺, and a border fence has already been built along it. The farmers' attitude was truly inspiring — they do not intend to abandon their land even in the event of 🇷🇺 aggression. They are ready to defend Latvia, their homeland, and every meter of their land. That is exactly the kind of farmer we should have in our country. I am proud from the bottom of my heart! Father and son farm together — one with enormous practical experience, the other as a modern agronomist. The farm started with one collective-farm tractor, which today is preserved as a monument. Opposite it now stand some of the most modern and multi-million-euro John Deere combines in the world. It should be particularly highlighted that at the grain reception point there is a modern laboratory that immediately determines grain quality. This allows product sorting, price forecasting, and efficient sales planning. The farm has about 100 units of machinery and 50 employees, who are employed, well paid, and also fed on site. If only Latvia had more such enterprising, courageous, and far-sighted farmers! Military reinforcement of the border We inspected border sections where construction of a defense belt has already begun in critical locations — anti-tank ditches are being dug and so-called 'dragon's teeth' are being placed. The first stage of works at critical points is planned to be completed by November, the second stage by spring, and the remaining border reinforcement by the end of next year. Thanks to the Ministry of Defense R.Melnis, the Ministry of Interior @janisdombrava, and the National Armed Forces for the joint work! At the same time, we identified several legal and cooperation obstacles that we will address immediately: ➖️ too slow deforestation in the territories managed by @valstsmezi LVM; ➖️ no clear regulation for voluntary involvement of private individuals and businesses; ➖️ a cooperation model with the private sector is needed, using entrepreneurs' equipment and labor; ➖️ military training could be combined with cleaning melioration ditches and tidying up territories. FOX military vehicles and the Grebneva border point Along the border fence to the Grebneva border point we drove in Latvia-made high-cross-country military vehicles FOX. The creator of the vehicle, Ali Jansons, was at the wheel. It was an excellent opportunity to compare old and new types of border fences and to see how capable FOX vehicles are in Latvia's difficult conditions. ➖️ we inspected the border fence construction; ➖️ we became acquainted with solutions for sensors, cameras, and other infrastructure; ➖️ we assessed planned next stages of border equipping. At the Grebneva border point we familiarized ourselves with the current situation on the border with 🇷🇺: ➖️ we found out daily transport and people flow statistics; ➖️ we discussed the border point's readiness plans for possible threats and provocations; ➖️ we evaluated border guards' action scenarios in crisis situations. Army resource park We also went to the army resource park to understand the plans for military reinforcement of the border and the real possibilities. We assessed: ➖️ digging anti-tank ditches; ➖️ placement of barbed wire and 'dragon's teeth'; ➖️ technical solutions, cameras, and sensors; ➖️ work deadlines and available resources; ➖️ necessary amendments to laws and Cabinet of Ministers regulations. Airspace protection and anti-drone capabilities We continued inspecting the border from the air and landed at a military radar station, also equipped with anti-drone solutions. We heard a report on Latvia's airspace monitoring and defense readiness. A significant improvement in military response time has been brought by the regulation adopted at the Latgale Cabinet of Ministers meeting on June 27 regarding compensation for damages in case of drones or other incidents. It significantly speeds up the ability to make decisions and neutralize unwanted aerial objects. Latvia-made anti-drone solutions are very capable and are already being used in practice. At the same time, the drone operator training system needs improvement. Soldiers must be given the opportunity to train in real conditions and also make mistakes, including damaging equipment during training, without requiring disproportionate accountability, as has been the case until now. From there we went to Lielvārde. Meeting with Latgale NGOs In Rēzekne we met with representatives of Latgale non-governmental organizations at the centrs Gors. They very clearly explained regional peculiarities and how significantly NGO working conditions in Latgale differ from the situation in Riga. Only about 2,000 NGOs operate in Latgale, or 7% of the total number of NGOs in Latvia. The discussion particularly emphasized the importance of the LEADER program in the regions. I completely agree. At the same time, I received information that due to the planned changes by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance, the future of this program could be threatened. I will talk about this at @Brivibas36 in the Cabinet of Ministers. It must be borne in mind that for many Latgale associations, existing without state funding is practically impossible. Donation and sponsor support is critically insufficient due to the region's lower purchasing power. It is unfair to evaluate regional NGOs and large-city organizations by identical criteria. In project competitions, a regional criterion is needed, as well as a higher number of points for organizations operating in the border area. Watch the continuation @Apvienotais_

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From@AndrisKulbergs

Day 8 in the Prime Minister's chair (en route from 🇪🇪). Perhaps the most important day so far. Today a historic moment — 🇱🇻 Latvia signed a defense cooperation agreement with 🇺🇦 Ukraine! ➖️ I started the morning meeting with 🇪🇪 President @AlarKaris. The main topic of conversation was the three “B”s — #airBaltic, #RailBaltica and #ViaBaltica — as well as how to further improve cooperation between us as neighbors. I also mentioned that it is strange — our schools practically do not offer the opportunity to learn the languages of neighboring countries 🇪🇪🇱🇹. ➖️ Meeting with @ZelenskyyUa, during which we signed a historic defense cooperation agreement today. Its purpose is to adopt 🇺🇦 Ukraine's anti-drone experience, technological solutions and training from Ukrainian drone soldiers in Latvia, as well as to develop joint production of Latvian and Ukrainian military industry. The goal is clear — to make 🇱🇻 Latvia's airspace safer. ➖️ In the NB8 format, I met with the prime ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries, as well as special guests @EmmanuelMacron and @ZelenskyyUa. We met, I thanked for 🇫🇷 France's NATO air force involvement in shooting down a drone on Monday, and I also received an invitation to meet in person in France for Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, where @Latvijas_armija will participate in the parade. In the talks, I insisted on the need to find solutions to restrict Russia's shadow fleet ships in the Baltic Sea, as well as real support for EU eastern border countries in strengthening their economies. At the same time, I called for a review of the illogical EU CBAM quota fees for mineral fertilizers, which affect our farmers. We also discussed that the expansion of AI data centers is not possible without clear solutions in energy, as well as Sweden and Denmark's significant military presence in Latvia and its further expansion. ➖️ Very many interviews with Estonian and international media, which had great interest in Latvia's agreement with Ukraine. ➖️ The Nordic Investment Bank — NIB — is increasing funding for Latvia and the region, but due to current policy, it does not finance military production and energy CHP projects. Exactly what is currently needed for the region's security and development. The Green Deal policy clashes with today's security reality. This was a very successful day for Latvia! Huge thanks to @AizsardzibasMin, Minister R. Melnis, @Arlietas and @Braze_Baiba, ministers of @Brivibas36, as well as State Chancellery employees and the Latvian Embassy in Estonia, especially Kristīne Lauritsa.

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