Latvian Political Monitor

From@djjapanis

@JurgisLiepnieks This attack on Kulbergs looks a bit uncool. In essence, the prime minister hasn't said anything wrong, and the fact that additional funds are being requested in Europe for strengthening the border is hardly reprehensible or wrong. Nobody is getting upset about increasing support for Latvian agriculture.

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From@AndrisKulbergs

🇱🇻 Latvia is currently paying for security from which all of Europe benefits. However, the bill remains largely with us. From 2027, Latvia will spend at least 5% of GDP on defense. We are strengthening the EU and NATO external border with the aggressor state. This border is not only Latvia's border—it is Europe's security border. But the current system is unfair. ➖️ Latvia borrows money to build fortifications and strengthen the eastern border. ➖️ Due to border-area risk, we pay higher interest on this debt. ➖️ Due to geopolitical risk, Latvia also loses investments and tourists. ➖️ At the same time, we buy billions worth of armaments and military equipment mainly from 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇳🇱 the Netherlands, 🇪🇸 Spain and other countries. So Latvia takes on the debt and risk, while our defense spending simultaneously warms Western European economies. And all this is done to protect not only Riga or Daugavpils. Deterrence at Latvia's border also makes Berlin, Munich, Paris and Amsterdam safer. Therefore, the 7 billion euros Latvia is asking for is not “extra money for Latvia.” It is part of the cost of protecting Europe's common border. In seven years, that would be only about 0.4% of the nearly 2 trillion euro EU budget. For 449 million Europeans—about 2.23 euros per person per year. One coffee. For Latvia's inhabitants—about 540 euros per year. This difference very clearly shows the problem. Latvia will defend its border in any case. The question is—will all of Europe pay for Europe's common security, or will we leave a disproportionately large share of the bill to countries that happen geographically to be next to the aggressor's border? We are not asking for solidarity just for the sake of solidarity. We are offering the most effective European security investment—investing money where the real threat is. 🇪🇺 Europe's eastern border is common. The bill for its defense must also be common. https://t.co/oyE1yMcnR2

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From@UlvisSilins

I think we need to distinguish NATO and Europe. If Spain has no pragmatic reasons to be in NATO, then it should leave. Although there are dozens of pragmatic reasons, so probably not everything will happen. Speaking of the EU external border, which Kulbergs talks about, Spain would be a beneficiary of such a format. If of course they would guard something. And the EU MUST pay for guarding the external border.

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From@EdvardsSmiltens

🧑🏼‍⚖️ Immigration-related cases will now be able to be distributed more evenly among courts throughout Latvia. ✅ The Saeima has adopted in the final reading amendments to the Immigration Law that will allow cases related to detained foreigners to be distributed more evenly among district courts throughout Latvia. Until now, these cases were largely concentrated in the Latgale District Court, creating a disproportionate additional burden. At the Saeima's out-of-town sitting in Latgale, we heard this problem very clearly from court representatives. We did not put this issue aside – we acted, and today the solution has been adopted. This means we will be able to use the capacity of the court system more wisely – if the volume of work increases significantly in one region, part of the cases can be redirected to courts where resources are available. This will help reduce the workload of one court and ensure more timely consideration of other cases as well. 💻 Importantly, the hearing of cases will be possible remotely using video conferencing, so transferring a case to another Latvian court will not require the physical transfer of the detained person to that court, and thus will not create expenses related to bringing the person to court. At the same time, court control, the grounds for detention, and the procedural guarantees of the person remain unchanged. Only the procedure for case distribution changes – so that the court system throughout Latvia can work more efficiently and resiliently. The court system must be sufficiently flexible to use resources where they are most needed at any given moment!

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From@BrencisA

@Vinkele @E_Stendzenieks We have enough of our own. Why import more strangers if we can't deal with our own? You will pay for it from your cushy big salary?

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From@LapinsGirts

Received an order to attack those who mistreat immigrants, received an order to attack NA and AS. Spriņģes and Re:Baltica have never investigated Vienotība and the Progressives, all their misdeeds with airBaltic, railBaltic, Briškens's piles in the Daugava, Sprūds's interesting activities at the Ministry of Defence, Evika Siliņa's and Kariņš's flights, etc., etc. Is that really investigative journalism? Is that really journalism? Or are engaged “journalists” through interesting funding sources?

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From@Vinotava

@EdvinsSnore @AndrisKulbergs What was the purpose of this letter, this internal political pre-election stunt? What did Dombrava achieve? In diplomatic circles, he created a caricatured impression of himself, which will be subtly used against him/Latvia? Who needed this?

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From@RitaEvaNa

Kulberg's dramatic monodramas are, of course, a rather interesting phenomenon in the overall, very gray, political theater. But let us remember that it is precisely AS that is pushing golden visa proposals that promote migration, and it is precisely LVP that are AS's closest potential partners.

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From@AndrisKulbergs

Day No. 54 in the prime minister's seat – immigration law, hospital reform, energy, and again the old unresolved issues. Today the day started early with a security meeting on the illegal immigration counteraction plan – we will inform the public tomorrow. It is a very good plan and it will be put into effect immediately. But in parallel, several serious issues are on the government's agenda. 🛂 IMMIGRATION LAW / TUA FOR INVESTORS The President has returned to the Saeima for re-review the amendments to the Immigration Law on temporary residence permits for foreign investors. We must make a clear choice – whether we want to fill the state budget mainly with the help of foreign students working at Bolt/Wolt, or whether we are able to attract wealthy people who invest in Latvia, create companies, buy property and pay taxes. I have repeatedly stressed – 🇱🇻 the foundation of national security is a strong economy. For the economy to grow, we ourselves must be brave enough to make bold and competitive decisions. 🏠 The housing stock deficit exists in practically all regions of Latvia. For example, the Vidzeme hospital lacks qualified medical staff also because people who would be ready to work there simply have nowhere to live. My proposal provides: ➖️ an investor who wishes to receive a TUA in Latvia must provide a much greater economic contribution to the state; ➖️ increase the direct payment to the state budget to €50,000 over five years; ➖️ at the same time, ensure real investments in Latvia's economy; ➖️ in the next step, create an opportunity for these people to become Latvian tax residents, paying a fixed €60,000 tax per year – a kind of Latvian tax “subscription”. 📊 If we could attract 1,000 investors this way: ➡️ €50 million directly to the state budget; ➡️ more than €100 million in investments in Latvia's economy; ➡️ in the case of tax residence, up to another €300 million over five years. Total potential contribution – around half a billion euros in five years. That is a completely different scale. 👶 WORKING PARENTS' BENEFIT In the coalition we agreed on amendments to the Maternity and Sickness Insurance Law (initiated by @Jauna_Vienotiba): ➖️ extend the current arrangement regarding the working parents' benefit; ➖️ give new parents a clear signal that support will also be available in the future; ➖️ the Ministry of Finance is tasked with assessing the financial impact of the decision. 🎓 EDUCATION LAW We agree that the assessment system for learning outcomes must be improved. But trying to introduce significant changes by September 1 – that is simply not realistic. We agreed to convene a separate meeting this week that will be entirely devoted to this issue. ⚡ ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE A new government thematic committee on energy, environment and climate issues will be created, with KEM taking overall supervision. There are many questions and unresolved problems here, so much closer coordination between ministries is needed. 🌬️ K2 VENTUM WIND PARK PROJECT IN PĀVILOSTA Again we are faced with decisions taken, or more precisely not taken and postponed, by previous governments. The situation is legally complicated, and wrong decisions can cost the state many millions of euros. ➖️ KEM must take responsibility for its decisions; ➖️ we asked the ministry to assess the issue much more broadly; ➖️ in a week I expect full information and an assessment of possible consequences. It is the responsibility of both officials and the minister to prevent the state from being drawn into extensive and expensive litigation. 🏥 ZZS OBJECTIONS TO THE HOSPITAL REFORM Here again we encountered a familiar situation. In the government, the hospital reform issue has been reviewed and a decision has been made. I also urge ZZS to familiarize themselves in detail with the real situation in hospitals, patient flows, staff availability and funding. Reform cannot be done only on paper, but it can likewise not be stopped just because change is politically unpopular. 🇱🇻 My principle remains unchanged – the state must be able to make decisions. Not to postpone them endlessly to the next government. KNAB has initiated a review of my visit to Zemgale and Liepāja - my answer: come and check. I honestly combined a work visit to Zemgale and Kurzeme to get to know the situation in agriculture and manufacturing, while also meeting residents as the AS prime ministerial candidate in the next elections. As prime minister, my work is 24/7 and there is no other way than to reach voters without combining it with work. If someone wants to nitpick, you are welcome, I will explain and show everything.

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From@gatisliepin

While still a deputy, Kulbergs achieved several proposals in the Immigration Law to restore golden visas. Now as prime minister, he continues to advocate for their implementation. After the elections, he hopes that together with Šlesers everything will be arranged as in the 'good old days'. https://t.co/7HivUDbMXv

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