Thursday, April 16, 2026

Headlines

government spending

During Siliņa’s government, state spending on grants to NGOs and individuals has doubled

Expenditures by ministries and institutions for non-governmental organizations, as well as grants to private individuals over the last four years have more than doubled, according to information compiled by Inc. Thus, in 2022 a total of 98.9 million euros was spent for these purposes, while in 2026, 192.9 million euros is planned to be spent for the same purposes. It should be added that the increase has been consistent and these have not been any exceptions […]

Amber Beverage Group asks to support companies that support Ukraine

The alcoholic beverage producer Amber Beverage Group, which owes the state several million, is calling on the Latvian government and European institutions to support companies that, by expressing support for Ukraine, have suffered direct economic losses because of their stance. “Almost four years after the start of Russian aggression, Amber Beverage Group continues to bear the costs of our principled support for Ukraine and peace in Europe,” says Amber Beverage Group’s CEO […]

From this year, members of election commissions will earn 30% more

Contrary to promises not to increase salaries in the public sector, the Cabinet of Ministers (MK) at the end of last year increased the remuneration of members of municipal election commissions and polling station commissions by about 30%, according to information on the MK legal acts portal. The new regulations came into force on January 1 of this year. Thus, if previously the hourly rate of the commission chairperson was 10 to 15 euros, the commission secretary earned from […]

What you need to know about changes in laws and regulations in 2026

Greater support for residents, including families with children, a reduced value added tax rate for certain food products, simplified implementation of small-scale construction projects, the introduction of a unified building registration service, improved queue management for medical examinations – these and other changes will affect the daily lives of Latvia’s residents starting from 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers reports. Support for families From 1 January 2026 […]

Opinion: SIF will decide whether to give Latvian taxpayers’ money to Estonian media; no one checks the produced publications

To some, such a headline may sound biased or tendentious, yet unfortunately it is true. That can happen. On Friday, December 5, the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) will decide whether to change the current procedure for allocating funds from the Media Support Fund (SIF), replacing the existing distribution with one that provides more money for online media. Considering that audience size is among the criteria, there is a […]

The enchanted cycle of heat

The heating season is just around the corner, and residents of Riga will again pay more for heat. Politicians, who face Saeima elections next year, have suddenly set about trying to reduce heating tariffs in Riga, but their little blanket of populism is more likely to tear than to reach the goal – all because short-term solutions have been made the priority for their own aims and interests, instead of tackling the root of the growing problem. However banal […]

Create a “crisis support center” for farmers in difficulty

To ensure timely and coordinated economic and legal advisory support for farmers in difficulty, close cooperation and effective information exchange between the institutions involved is necessary. Therefore, in order to provide crisis assistance to farmers in difficulty, the Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze has instructed the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC) to establish communication channels (telephone, e-mail, online form, in person) by 24 October. The latest […]

In the VDAA competition for the development of an election platform, Emergn and RIX Technologies have been invited to participate

In the State Digital Development Agency’s (VDAA) tender for the development or adaptation of an election platform for the Saeima elections, the companies AS Emergn and AS RIX Technologies have applied to participate in the restricted procedure, according to information in the Electronic Procurement System (EIS). In a restricted tender, anyone interested may apply, but the contracting authority itself chooses which companies to invite to submit bids. Information on the VDAA website shows that, according to the agency’s estimates […]

The road use fees will be significantly increased

Starting from the first day of 2026, the road user charge will increase significantly – the largest rise in the rate will affect owners of the most environmentally friendly (Euro VI) internal combustion engine heavy goods vehicles. This draft law has been prepared by the Ministry of Transport. One of the reasons for increasing the rates is unscrupulous drivers who, by avoiding roads subject to the charge, damage roads that are not designed to withstand such heavy loads. The Ministry of Transport informs that it has been established […]

In several ministries, saving is not mandatory: the reduction of expenses is a fiction

Contrary to the plan this spring to cut ministry expenses by a mere 150 million per year, it turns out that even this is not mandatory for all ministries. For example, in the ministries headed by the “Progressives”, there will be almost no savings at all. The exact reason for such leniency is not known, but an Inc. source at the Ministry of Finance admits – this was the coalition’s agreement. However, it should begin with a reminder – Inc. […]