Latvian Political Monitor

From@irLV

Does it pay off for a politician to be a good venture capitalist? What to do so that young people can afford to live in Latvia? Which criticism directed at "Progresīvie" has been justified? These questions were asked by Ārands, Krista and Anete to the "Progresīvo" prime minister candidate Andris Šuvajevs. 🗳️ Before the elections, "Ir" editorial office gathered young people who explained what issues concern them and what they expect from the next Saeima. They also had the opportunity to ask politicians questions of interest to them. Follow the answers of other candidates on our social networks! Read interviews with the PM candidates of the most popular parties, youth discussion and other election content at https://t.co/bTr0fz7vWA 👈👀

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From@irLV

Does it pay off for a politician to be a good venture capitalist? What to do so that young people can afford to live in Latvia? Which criticism directed at "Progresīvie" has been justified? These questions were asked by Ārands, Krista and Anete to the "Progresīvo" prime minister candidate Andris Šuvajevs. 🗳️ Before the elections, "Ir" editorial office gathered young people who explained what issues concern them and what they expect from the next Saeima. They also had the opportunity to ask politicians questions of interest to them. Follow the answers of other candidates on our social networks! Read interviews with the PM candidates of the most popular parties, youth discussion and other election content at https://t.co/bTr0fz7vWA 👈👀

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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

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From@Jauna_Vienotiba

🇱🇻 Latvia's position on sanctions has been clear and consistent – sanctions against Russia must be strengthened, not weakened. Baiba Braže defended Latvia's objections to removing Usmanov and Fridman from the EU sanctions list to the very end. Latvia maintained the common sanctions regime against more than 2,600 individuals and entities, but imposed national sanctions on both oligarchs. Therefore, criticism of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for insufficiently defending Latvia's interests in this situation is unfounded – quite the opposite, Latvian diplomats defended this position to the end. https://t.co/qDecvCqUZb

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From@Arlietas

Foreign Minister @Braze_Baiba met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan 🇱🇻🤝🇦🇪 Current global security challenges were discussed, including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as opportunities for Latvia and the UAE to cooperate in providing humanitarian aid and energy support to Ukraine 🇺🇦 and other conflict-affected regions. The ministers highly valued the active cooperation between Latvia and the UAE both bilaterally and within the framework of the UN 🇺🇳 Security Council. 📸 Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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From@WarMonitor3

In 2015 a Russian fighter jet crossed into Turkish airspace from Syria after ignoring repeated warnings Turkish F-16s shot the fighter down after just 5 minutes. Russia never made the same mistake again…

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