Oooooo! The one who dragged ZZS into the government has woken up. He drew red lines against Lembergs and ZZS so much that he got tangled and ended up in Lembergs' lap, just to be able to receive a salary in the government. It cost the state dearly - Sprūds' sabotage at the Ministry of Defence and Briškens/Švinka's disaster at the Ministry of Transport. And they didn't want to leave so much that they literally had to be thrown out. Now they are moralizing and drawing lines again. Draw them around yourselves :))
🎙️ Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs on Latvian Radio 1 program “Krustpunktā” about the state budget, economic growth, security, and the future of Rail Baltica. “There will be no miracles. Before promising new benefits, we must answer how to cover the existing budget deficit and how to make Latvia earn more.” The previous government has prepared a budget with a shortfall of 238 million euros next year, and by 2030 this shortfall could grow to 1.3 billion euros. Andris Kulbergs emphasizes that the solution is not raising taxes, but reviewing state expenditures and economic growth. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Latvian Radio 1 program “Krustpunktā”: https://t.co/5lVfqZo47g#AndrisKulbergs#Krustpunktā#LatvijasRadio#APVIENOTAISSARAKSTS#MumsIrRisinājums#KulbergsIrRisinājums#LatvijaMumsIrRisinājums#7Saraksts#SaeimasVēlēšanas2026
In the context of this news, it is worth recalling another example that illustrates the same problem – namely, that in the Defense Ministry led by the Progressives, the opinion of the army and experts has regularly been sidelined. In May of this year, before Defense Minister Sprūds stepped down, the former prime minister publicly pointed out that the minister had delayed procurement of Israeli-made air defense systems. Sprūds denied the accusation, calling it a lie. In August, the new government revealed another problem – the purchased anti-drone systems lack ammunition. And now Defense Minister Melnis is making the same accusation against Sprūds regarding howitzers – that NBS recommendations were not heeded. Regardless of which side is more right in this particular dispute, the picture is the same – at a time when Russian drones are falling or being shot down on Latvian territory, the defense sector has been indecisive about which partner to buy capabilities from that are needed today. Israel is one of the world's most experienced countries in air and anti-drone defense precisely because it has lived for decades in a threat reality that Latvia is now entering. And next door we see what it looks like when decisions are made in a timely manner: Estonia already signed a contract with an Israeli company in 2021 for the the Blue Spear coastal defense missile system, becoming the first country in the world to field it – and by 2024 it covers the entire Estonian coast. Who is responsible? The The Defense Ministry was led by the Progressives during this period – a party where identity and foreign-policy sympathy politics regularly compete with security priorities. And that is not the the only evidence. Two state secretaries left under the same minister – first Jānis Garisons in late 2023, citing disagreements with the minister, then Aivars Puriņš in April this year, whose departure the former prime minister herself called a sign of systemic problems in the ministry. When top-level officials, whose job is precisely to ensure professional, expertise-based decision-making, leave one after another, that is no coincidence. A minister can resign, the portfolio can pass to other hands, but the decisions not made or made late during this time remain at the cost of Latvia's security long after the political leadership has changed. The practical consequences are visible: the first drone that flew in in Rēzekne went unnoticed by the National Armed Forces, in the summer it emerged that some anti-drone systems had been bought with equipment but ammunition was forgotten, and now for the second time there is a public dispute over whether NBS recommendations were even heard. Each of these facts alone would be an incident. Together they are an obvious systemic problem in Latvia's defense procurement – hopefully one that remains in the past. In conclusion. Security is not a place to seek ideological comfort. If a party that leads the Defense Ministry cannot distinguish political sympathy from the priorities of national survival, it has no place in government, let alone at the 'helm' of the defense sector. Latvia needs capabilities that work. The next defense minister must be accountable for one single result: safe Latvian skies, procured from those partners who can provide them fastest and most reliably.
To help voters make a critical and informed choice in the 15th Saeima elections, Latvian Television offers a program series 'Party in Focus', which will provide a comprehensive insight into party programs and their offerings. #IzvēliesLatvijasNākotni#Vēlēšanas2026
🖥️: Tonight the party 'Stabilitātei!' is invited to the program: https://t.co/flrnF2T2Y6
Since 2020, I have repeatedly applied for public vacancies at Latvian Radio and Latvian Television. My professional qualities and command of literary Latvian allow me to work on air, while the neo-communist Anita Brauna does not hire Latvian patriots—she hires Russians.
When state television sends a correspondent to stand on a street in Washington to recount what happened yesterday in Kyiv, that is no longer a news service, it is theater. Expensive, self-satisfied and completely unnecessary.
If it were their money, they would sit in a studio in Riga. Since the money is ours, they stand in Washington and call it a presence in the world.
Unity's propaganda office must be shut down.
Education challenges not only students' minds, but also their wallets. That's why we must double scholarships so that education does not become the privilege of only a few. #vēlēšanas2026https://t.co/vESMLYyZYQ
I completely agree. This can be done with an 'iron coalition', as hopefully will be the next one. To create a budget that does not give money to everyone, actually stepping over the natural drive, but focuses only on those who are worst off.
APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS - Latvijas Zaļā partija, Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība, Liepājas partija · Ekonomists (FM ministra birojs)
Reply
@JanizBerzins@realNepareizais We technically can no longer sponsor AB. Even though it would be more advantageous than RS. And more unfair.
If you don't understand that, I'm putting an end to it.
@guntarsv@realNepareizais Of course it is. The state regional transport budget, the RS budget through Riga or directly. AB brings money back, which cannot be said for pensioners or similar buses and RS.
At the next Saeima session, deputies will have the opportunity to decide on @Progresivie's proposal to ban the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain.
Then there will be no need to simulate actions with such tariffs.
https://t.co/KbHuV6RuuU
Stradiņš from Washington Street recounts what happened at the meeting in Kyiv. What Kushner said, what he didn't say, what Zelensky. Epochal! https://t.co/f9a2JlorLx
At the next Saeima session, deputies will have the opportunity to decide on @Progresivie's proposal to ban the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain.
Then there will be no need to simulate actions with such tariffs.
https://t.co/KbHuV6RuuU
@AinavaP@Oliniete2@IlzeKusina@AndrejsUrbans One part of Riga, Old Riga, has already been destroyed in the name of tourism. No, the blocker @MartaKotello is not fixing what has already been taken from residents and depleted, but makes unattractive those parts of the city where residents had moved to avoid tourists and the Old Riga markup.
@Oliniete2@IlzeKusina@zuravlevs@AndrejsUrbans I agree with every word. When they eat their lunches, and on Fridays and Saturdays party all night - that's all! Nobody needs those streets anymore, only themselves! No need to exaggerate. PRO probably thinks they have brought tourism back to Riga at a mega level, but unfortunately no!
⛔️Russia's grain transit must be stopped - it is an international disgrace and economically makes Latvian farmers non-competitive. 📊@VL_TBLNNK supports increasing tariffs on Russian grain transit to make this route unprofitable. There is an agreement in the coalition on this. 👉🏻At the same time, we have also drafted amendments to the law that would completely halt Russian grain transit, prohibiting the use of port infrastructure. The EU agreement provides for such an exception if it is time-limited and justified by a member state's security risks. #krievija#tranzits#graudi
Jaunā konservatīvā partija · JKP līdzpriekšsēdētājs, Jelgavas vicemērs
Reply
1) Kulbergs said that Lufthansa will not invest. So I assume there have been several talks. 2) If you sell the brand together with fixed assets, then it is practically a ready-made business without the old liabilities. Or it can be sold for a good price. 3) The state wants Riga to be the home airport and there to be many direct flights from Riga - that has been the position so far. Also in the context of a strategic investor, the talk is that the state should retain a 25%+1 share in order to be able to set such significant conditions.
1) I have no idea what Lufthansa thinks, but if the example is SAS restructuring, then the Danish government and AirFrance-KLM invested in SAS only after all disputes over the bond conversion value, previous ownership, etc. had ended. 2) Everyone can earn more money if the airline flies. Selling off assets is not really a profitable business. 3) The Latvian state wants to privatize airBaltic, not become the main owner.
The government plans to impose a 300% tariff on grain shipments from Russia and Belarus and their processing, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) told journalists after a coalition meeting.
Nacionālā apvienība "Visu Latvijai!"-"Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK" · Žurnālists
Tweet
Since 2020, I have repeatedly applied for public vacancies at Latvian Radio and Latvian Television. My professional qualities and command of literary Latvian allow me to work on air, while the neo-communist Anita Brauna does not hire Latvian patriots—she hires Russians.