Latvian Political Monitor

Why do children use intoxicating substances? Ilze Stobova has observed a turning point https://t.co/7dT4VCMDy0

You can't make a poll on Twitter with a dozen options, so here are the options. Who would you vote for if the Saeima elections were tomorrow?

A significant step for passenger convenience and public transport connectivity! The “Riga unified ticket” is now available in all Vivi train route zones — A, B, C, D and E. With one purchase, you can combine a train ride with a 90-minute ride on Riga’s buses, trams and trolleybuses. For passengers, this means simpler transfers and a one-euro saving on each trip compared to buying both tickets separately. The next goal should be a unified ticket across Latvia, that is, on trains, buses and urban public transport. One trip should have one conveniently purchasable ticket.

Defence spending must create not only security, but also Latvia's economic strength — production, knowledge and exports. The defence budget must not be just money Latvia spends abroad. It must also become investment in Latvian industry, the creation of high value-added products and well-paid jobs. The planned plant for combat ammunition and explosives in Jēkabpils municipality is exactly such an example. Up to €200 million in investment, about 200 jobs and production mainly for export. It is important that such a project is being developed outside Riga. Regional development cannot be ensured only by redistributing state budget funds. Private investment, production and jobs are needed that raise wages and create orders also for other companies in the region. But the state's task does not end with attracting an investor. Worker training, roads and energy connections, safety requirements and an open conversation with local residents must be ensured. Five percent for defence can become not only security spending, but also a programme for Latvia's industrialisation. That is why the important question is how much of this money will create jobs, knowledge and exports right here in Latvia? https://t.co/0upkSt2c41

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.

@anjo_lv ZZS leaders are actively evaluating Riga's infrastructure during the 15th Saeima election campaign. We'll see if that helps them stay below 5%.

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.

@pucej @n_karklinz @KarlisBumeister @grok make a comparison of what Latvia's GDP was in 2015 and 2025. What was the growth. Also add the average inflation percentage for Latvia and Lithuania for this period.

🔹We will question the Minister of Climate and Energy Jānis Vitenbergs (NA): what has the crisis after the storm damage revealed about Latvia's energy security, and what role did the ministry's submitted and withdrawn project on the extraordinary situation in the eastern border region play. 🔹Many yesterday checked what data about you was stolen from CSDD IT systems. But what to conclude from that and how to act? We will ask the deputy director of the State Data Inspectorate, Lāsma Dilba. 🔹And this weekend in Riga, Ukrainian Cinema Days in Latvia will take place – a cultural project that for several years has offered to get to know contemporary Ukrainian cinema, significant works of Ukrainian cinematic heritage, and stories about modern Ukraine.