Latvian Political Monitor

Trade with the aggressor state Russia and its satellite Belarus must be stopped immediately. The government declaration includes such a commitment. Unfortunately, the amendments approved today only partially restrict the import of goods. A step in the right direction, but incomplete. The restrictions apply to only 6.5% of the import volume. We submitted a proposal to completely stop the import of goods from aggressor states, as it most directly finances the aggression in Ukraine. Unfortunately, today the Saeima majority lacked the political will to jointly implement what is in the security interests of Latvia and Ukraine.

The system was configured and installed to work in the Latvian language. The procurement specification stated that the operation of the devices must be ensured in the state language. Any other languages are part of the device's factory settings. (1/2)

🗳️ Democracy must be able to function even in difficult circumstances! ✅ Today the Saeima adopted amendments developed by the Ministry of Justice that will allow extending voting time at polling stations if voting is significantly disrupted in a situation of significant threat. This is an important step in strengthening Latvia's resilience. Our duty is to ensure that even in emergency situations every voter has the opportunity to exercise the right to vote guaranteed by the Constitution. A strong democracy means readiness to protect the election process in any circumstances! 🇱🇻

A person who is in the right place at the right time - Defense Minister Raivis Melnis. https://t.co/AimELyUlk2

🛡️ The Saeima has adopted amendments to the law that will allow Latvia to ban the import of certain goods from Russia and Belarus. Following the initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Unity, Baiba Braže, the Saeima today adopted in urgency amendments to the Law on Support for Ukrainian Civilians, delegating to the Cabinet of Ministers the authority to set a national import ban for goods that are currently not subject to European Union sanctions. 📚 This will apply to groups of goods such as books, newspapers, video games, sports equipment, toys, clothing and footwear originating from Russia or Belarus. 📉 Since 2022, imports from Russia and Belarus to Latvia have decreased by 91%, but certain groups of goods are still being imported. Last year, their imports reached 12.5 million euros. 🇱🇻 Reducing economic ties with aggressor states is a matter of Latvia's security. We continue to use all available tools to strengthen Latvia's security, protect our businesses and support Ukraine.

Today @Progresivie submitted a proposal to the Saeima that would provide for a full ban on imports from Russia. Unfortunately, the Saeima majority did not support it. The reasons didn't really become clear to me. Instead, restrictions will affect only 6.5% of all imports. https://t.co/P84Rn32cNJ

SHAMELESSNESS ABOUT STATE MONEY. It is hard to imagine greater shamelessness, arrogance, and haughtiness. The chairman of the board of Latvia's umbrella organization for NGOs (now apparently former) Georgs Rubenis compares the current work of non-governmental organizations to the contribution of the New Latvians, who organized the Song Festival, to cultural workers – politicians who created the movements that formed the foundations of the founding of the Latvian state (LPNP and TP), and to the Latvian Popular Front. All of these were civic and non-governmental organizations. On the basis of this, the only similarity, Rubenis has expressed the opinion that the current role of NGOs is equivalent to those mentioned. Yes, one can agree with him. If it weren't for these societies, non-governmental communities, perhaps there would be no Latvian state. Only Rubenis has not taken into account that none of the mentioned organizations, at a time when the Latvian state did not exist or was occupied, could knock on the doors of the Tsar, Kerensky, or Gorbachev, simply demanding independence or cultural autonomy. Does he really imagine that this political demand could be implemented with the instruments of legal representation of power, when Latvians did not have such? None of these organizations were maintained by state funds. They were formed by volunteers who paid membership fees, all event participants paid from their own pockets for organizing the Song Festival, proving the necessity of the idea. Members of the Latvian Provisional National Council and the People's Council were ELECTED. Political communities become active when the offer of power does not satisfy or does not correspond to the interests of the majority of the population. In the Latvian case, civic activity arises at the moment when existence is threatened. That is why the Riga Latvian Society, LPNP, TP, and LTF were created. Fulfilling their historical mission, these organizations naturally dissolve, because they have fought for the mechanisms of political representation, namely independence, the Constitution, parliament, and elections. That is the only field for the implementation of interests, guaranteed by the public mandate, that ensures fair competition. Current NGOs have no nationally significant ideas. I partially understand the purpose of NGO representatives' activities, seemingly fulfilling a patch role between the needs of society and the services provided by the state, but it is based on a mistaken notion of the state as the provider of all necessities. In such logic, first, the meaning of elections is lost, because they no longer decide society's priorities; second, such 'civicness' does not promote involvement in political processes, because always POST FACTUM one can excuse oneself with the role of the victim of a narrow interest community that is not represented in party programs. Moreover, the best-known NGOs in Latvia are extensions of coalition parties, which with state money strengthen the positions of specific parties, receiving favorable financial treatment as gratitude. Let us remember how quickly last year 'Centrs MARTA' built a stage, summoned young people, D. Īvāns, Čebotarenoks, LSM vans with lights, cameras, a pleiad of coalition-paid journalists, privatized Doma Square to 'non-governmentally' defend the Istanbul Convention with state money. Let me paraphrase – the parties pay, the NGO organizes, politicians refer to a purchased event as an argument for their position. The most deplorable thing is that this article by Rubenis, which defends the granting of funding to NGOs, is published on the portal of the association 'ASCENDUM', which itself receives countless thousands of euros from the state. These same people write in the annual report that they have fought for queer rights, for the protection of Russian-speaking people after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, against toxic masculinity, collaborated with 'GRIBU PALĪDZĒT BĒGĻIEM', who organized illegal border crossings, etc. There is also some good project in the middle, but overall very anti-state, narrow-minded, and shallow. And those freaks would be the modern New Latvians? No, not for feeding troughs! In the picture: Georgs Rubenis

The Saeima has adopted amendments initiated by @EM_gov_lv that will restrict unfair retail practices – it will no longer be possible to remove products from the assortment without warning, clearer delivery terms will be set, and faster payments for fresh produce.

In agriculture, cooperation is critically important for the competitiveness of the sector. Analyzing the pros and cons, we discussed the importance of cooperation in the eastern border region with the Latgale Association of Producing Farmers.

The Saeima vote sends a clear signal that identities must be preserved! This must be taken into account by all involved regardless of what they think about ZZS https://t.co/6ofILTahxc

“I already said in one of the interviews that I serve my country – whether I'm in uniform or in a suit. Currently I am working for the state as a minister.” – Defense Minister Raivis Melnis. https://t.co/q3h5iBEOv7

The Prime Minister's attitude of 'the Prosecutor's Office can draw whatever it wants' towards the judicial authority and rule of law is unacceptable. https://t.co/RVnsBPlNLr

The expanded program of @Jauna_Vienotiba for the 15th Saeima elections has been published. It offers concrete solutions for Latvia's development, including strengthening the rule of law. The foundation of a strong state is respect for fundamental human rights and equal application of the law. https://t.co/8cbv3C5m0o

Regarding the Telia and Tet/LMT deal, Kulbergs says that 'an agreement on the sale price has been reached with V.Valainis'. What does that even mean? Since when can one negotiate a price with Valainis like that? The Minister of Economics does not have such a mandate. https://t.co/1hJrrO3FK3