Latvian Political Monitor

From@IvoButkevics

😁 https://t.co/IVXUuYCF8w

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From@Jekaba11

Latvia and Australia are united by shared democratic values and close cooperation in strengthening security. Saeima Speaker @DaigaMierina met with Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn, discussing bilateral cooperation, support for Ukraine, and Australia's participation in the Drone Coalition https://t.co/sboexHasms

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From@AndrisKulbergs

Day No. 41 in the prime minister's seat – inspection of Latvia's border with 🇷🇺 and 🇧🇾 Together with Interior Minister @janisdombrava and Defense Minister R.Melnis, we set out on a two-day trip to inspect Latvia's eastern border and see firsthand its readiness for possible provocations by the aggressor, as well as its ability to stop the flow of pseudo-migrants organized by 🇷🇺 at the 🇧🇾 border. On Friday, with the NBS Air Force and the US-supplied Black Hawk military helicopter, we flew to Latvia's external border with 🇷🇺. Throughout the flight, I listened to the pilots' communication with the dispatch center and concluded that aviation communications have much in common with a family doctor's handwritten referral — at first you can't understand anything from either. Obviously, special training is needed. 😄 We flew to Balvi, then to Viļaka and the 'Vientuļi' border crossing, then along the Latvia–🇷🇺 border towards Kārsava. ZS 'Amatnieki–Riekstiņi' We landed at the farm ZS 'Amatnieki–Riekstiņi', whose managed land area reaches 5,500 hectares. A large part of the land borders directly on 🇷🇺, and a border fence has already been built along it. The farmers' attitude was truly inspiring — they do not intend to abandon their land even in the event of 🇷🇺 aggression. They are ready to defend Latvia, their homeland, and every meter of their land. That is exactly the kind of farmer we should have in our country. I am proud from the bottom of my heart! Father and son farm together — one with enormous practical experience, the other as a modern agronomist. The farm started with one collective-farm tractor, which today is preserved as a monument. Opposite it now stand some of the most modern and multi-million-euro John Deere combines in the world. It should be particularly highlighted that at the grain reception point there is a modern laboratory that immediately determines grain quality. This allows product sorting, price forecasting, and efficient sales planning. The farm has about 100 units of machinery and 50 employees, who are employed, well paid, and also fed on site. If only Latvia had more such enterprising, courageous, and far-sighted farmers! Military reinforcement of the border We inspected border sections where construction of a defense belt has already begun in critical locations — anti-tank ditches are being dug and so-called 'dragon's teeth' are being placed. The first stage of works at critical points is planned to be completed by November, the second stage by spring, and the remaining border reinforcement by the end of next year. Thanks to the Ministry of Defense R.Melnis, the Ministry of Interior @janisdombrava, and the National Armed Forces for the joint work! At the same time, we identified several legal and cooperation obstacles that we will address immediately: ➖️ too slow deforestation in the territories managed by @valstsmezi LVM; ➖️ no clear regulation for voluntary involvement of private individuals and businesses; ➖️ a cooperation model with the private sector is needed, using entrepreneurs' equipment and labor; ➖️ military training could be combined with cleaning melioration ditches and tidying up territories. FOX military vehicles and the Grebneva border point Along the border fence to the Grebneva border point we drove in Latvia-made high-cross-country military vehicles FOX. The creator of the vehicle, Ali Jansons, was at the wheel. It was an excellent opportunity to compare old and new types of border fences and to see how capable FOX vehicles are in Latvia's difficult conditions. ➖️ we inspected the border fence construction; ➖️ we became acquainted with solutions for sensors, cameras, and other infrastructure; ➖️ we assessed planned next stages of border equipping. At the Grebneva border point we familiarized ourselves with the current situation on the border with 🇷🇺: ➖️ we found out daily transport and people flow statistics; ➖️ we discussed the border point's readiness plans for possible threats and provocations; ➖️ we evaluated border guards' action scenarios in crisis situations. Army resource park We also went to the army resource park to understand the plans for military reinforcement of the border and the real possibilities. We assessed: ➖️ digging anti-tank ditches; ➖️ placement of barbed wire and 'dragon's teeth'; ➖️ technical solutions, cameras, and sensors; ➖️ work deadlines and available resources; ➖️ necessary amendments to laws and Cabinet of Ministers regulations. Airspace protection and anti-drone capabilities We continued inspecting the border from the air and landed at a military radar station, also equipped with anti-drone solutions. We heard a report on Latvia's airspace monitoring and defense readiness. A significant improvement in military response time has been brought by the regulation adopted at the Latgale Cabinet of Ministers meeting on June 27 regarding compensation for damages in case of drones or other incidents. It significantly speeds up the ability to make decisions and neutralize unwanted aerial objects. Latvia-made anti-drone solutions are very capable and are already being used in practice. At the same time, the drone operator training system needs improvement. Soldiers must be given the opportunity to train in real conditions and also make mistakes, including damaging equipment during training, without requiring disproportionate accountability, as has been the case until now. From there we went to Lielvārde. Meeting with Latgale NGOs In Rēzekne we met with representatives of Latgale non-governmental organizations at the centrs Gors. They very clearly explained regional peculiarities and how significantly NGO working conditions in Latgale differ from the situation in Riga. Only about 2,000 NGOs operate in Latgale, or 7% of the total number of NGOs in Latvia. The discussion particularly emphasized the importance of the LEADER program in the regions. I completely agree. At the same time, I received information that due to the planned changes by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance, the future of this program could be threatened. I will talk about this at @Brivibas36 in the Cabinet of Ministers. It must be borne in mind that for many Latgale associations, existing without state funding is practically impossible. Donation and sponsor support is critically insufficient due to the region's lower purchasing power. It is unfair to evaluate regional NGOs and large-city organizations by identical criteria. In project competitions, a regional criterion is needed, as well as a higher number of points for organizations operating in the border area. Watch the continuation @Apvienotais_

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From@ltvzinas

Hoping that the three Baltic states will get the funding needed for the first stage of the Rail Baltica project from the European Union's next multiannual budget is simply not realistic, European Parliament Vice-President Roberts Zīle (NA) said on Rīta Panorāma. 🖥️ https://t.co/6UV8fI0BQP

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From@Zemkopibas_min

🤝 Minister of Agriculture @uldisaugulis met today with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia, Karls Pērsmans. During the meeting, current issues regarding the EU Common Agricultural Policy after 2027 and the next EU multiannual budget were discussed.

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From@irLV

"Latvijas Pasts" in 2025 has ensured the provision of the universal postal service without state compensation. Andris Puriņš, board member of "Latvijas Pasts", compares the situation in Latvia with the indicators of the postal companies of the other two Baltic states. 🔗 https://t.co/voECSr1i7z https://t.co/X7tF4tmEQ6

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