Latvian Political Monitor

Ideologically the closest is Kulbergs, but right now it looks like he is starting to merge with exactly what we want to replace

@JuAivars @drCHADMDD @AndrisKulbergs @EvikaSilina would grow more if there were deeds and results, but now instead it will fall and the election result will be much weaker than it could have been, which in turn will complicate life further, but those are their problems...

@mansviedoklis1 @Kuskis @AndrisKulbergs @EvikaSilina None. They promised some extravagant idea, but I guess the idea was stupid, so zero work, zero decisions, time goes by.

@drCHADMDD @AndrisKulbergs @EvikaSilina that is very understandable

@drCHADMDD @AndrisKulbergs @EvikaSilina everyone sets their own goals and tasks as agreed in the coalition. The question is - who is able to fulfill their goals and tasks, and who only comments that everything is shit and crap. They weren't that politically easy for Siliņa, given her coalition composition etc.

☝️ I want to reveal the secret of why 'Dombrava works, but ratings don't grow' and why Jaunups has become more popular than ZZS and will now 'get into the Saeima'. ❗️ The key is the chosen polling method. Both the July and August SKDS party polls were conducted online, a method used less by pensioners and rural residents, but where Riga's beer-guzzling residents are hyperactive. This is not a reproach to Arnims Kaktiņš, who is a private entrepreneur and can conduct whatever polls he wants. This is a reproach to @lsmlv, which hides its chosen polling method from its viewers. #IzrādāsArīTāVar

For professionals, the first months of a government are an opportunity for productive, big decisions, and active work, because usually then there is still a large credit of trust from the public and media, good relations in the coalition, everyone is full of energy, etc. Kulbergs has not been able to use this time usefully. He merely flows with the stream and comments on what he sees (though in education there are significantly harmful, erroneous decisions that will affect everyone).

It's quite funny that @AndrisKulbergs in his first 100 days won't have done anywhere near as much as @EvikaSilina did in her first 100. Lowering the bar like that is a skill.

Dear @ltvzinas and @DagnijaNeimane! In the report, it would have been correct to clarify what survey method was used this time - whether an employee walked around apartments, made phone calls, or collected opinions online. That would reveal which groups of society were addressed more and which less.

Yesterday we visited the border area - Terehova (border with Russia) and Pāternieki (with Belarus). While politically there are discussions about what and where can/cannot be transported in the EU ecosystem, in everyday life there is simply work that directly concerns the Ministry of Finance. Customs is a structural unit of VID, but VID itself is under the supervision of the Finance Ministry. The most pressing issue - for example, customs officers' salaries, which compete with border guards. We must try to resolve differences so as to reduce unproductive inter-agency competition. From the eastern side come goods such as Temu and Aliexpress, which stay a bit in Latvia, but most goes further to Europe. Can we facilitate customs clearance more in Latvia to ensure more taxes for the budget? A very interesting topic. Then Uzbeks traditionally bring watermelons, berries, and mushrooms, which are processed in Poland and return to our stores. In the opposite direction, a large part of cargo is EU-produced alcohol, for example. They drink, we get transit tax money and jobs in the border area. A surprising order has been introduced at the border, electronic queues, no crowding there. The biggest challenge is sanctions cases, we have to control hundreds of thousands of items, understand what is what. Even a regular house facade panel can or cannot be a sanctioned product. Handling confiscations sometimes takes months and requires very good training of customs officers. Mostly various everyday spare parts, construction materials, nothing sensational. Cigarettes are now smuggled much less, they are more produced domestically, but drugs are also caught, like this week 250 kg of heroin. A very valuable visit, we also discussed drone matters, they are 'used to it'. Also lessons from the storm in a no-communication and no-electricity situation. What we need to be ready for next time, but that also requires funding - where and how to organize the system to be better prepared next time. Well, we'll take that into account to find the most optimal solutions. It is always important to be on site, talk to people directly, office reports don't give such an impression. Meanwhile, in Riga yesterday there was a full moon. Due to the skewed fantasies of officials, a state of emergency was pushed to be introduced at the border to more easily resolve practical technical issues. A fuss arose that also echoed in foreign press. Completely unnecessary noise over stupidity.

Eventually, the Prime Minister will be surprised to discover which officials are directly under the supervision and responsibility of KNAB. https://t.co/K4Vd4b61vh

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ That's why I don't support it.

Politics / Public participation

We are not planning, but other possible kisses are much more toxic…

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ I understand, but the data has been stolen from practically all residents; compensating would mean paying for ourselves... there's no such mystical pocket to draw from without affecting ourselves.

“In history there has never been a case where increasing one benefit suddenly increases the birth rate. That cannot be a short-term solution; it must be long-term. If we talk about demographics, it includes both birth rate and mortality. So – what is healthcare like, also the fight against alcoholism. People need to be helped out of it,” Juris Viļums (AS) said in the #IzvēliesLatvijasNākotni debates in Daugavpils. #Vēlēšanas2026

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ Addresses have been stolen, which are declared; for many they are not the same ones where they live. Addresses cannot be changed, compensated... that is not possible. Car numbers are the fastest and easiest solution to come to each victim. The situation is terrible, no easy solutions.