Overcoming protests from the opposition on Thursday, the 1st of December, the majority in the Saeima voted in favour of creating the new Ministry of Climate and Energy and new vice-minister posts. This inspires hope that the government formation negotiations will speed up soon and Latvia will see a confidence vote in the parliament this year.
Using their majority of votes in the Legal Affairs Committee, the opposition did try to slow both initiatives. The opposition also created a public impression that neither idea would benefit the country.
KNAB was rather active in its reports this week. The corruption watchdog reported suspicious activity at the Central Election Commission, which is one of the most respected state institutions in the country. The commission’s chairperson Kristīne Bērziņa was detained but later released.
Latvian State Police, meanwhile, was busy finishing up the investigation of the murder of insolvency administrator Mārtiņš Bunkus. Four suspects are reported, including one citizen of Russia. The investigation lasted four years. Now the prosecution office will decide on the criminal case.
This week also brought more clarity as to what really happened with the aircraft that crashed into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Ventspils in September.
China has been a hot bed of activity as of late, as protests started in major cities around the country. People took to the streets to protests against Covid-19 restrictions. Some even went as far as to use anti-communist slogans. The Chinese government has backed off it seems, as decisions were made to ease restrictions.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Government novelties; Scandal with CVK; Insolvency administrator’s murder; State border; Wages on a rise; Aircraft crash; Protests in China; Conflict in the alliance.
GOVERNMENT NOVELTIES
Latvian Saeima supports creation of new ministry and vice-minister posts
Photo: Saeima/FlickrOn Thursday, the 1st of December, Latvia’s parliament approved the idea to create a Ministry of Climate and Energy, as well as introduce vice-minister posts in existing ministries.
52 members of the coalition voted in favour of amendments to the Cabinet Structure Law that provide for the creation of a Ministry of Climate and Energy. 45 members of the opposition voted against this.
52 members of the coalition voted in favour of amendments to the State Administration Structure Law. These amendments provide for the creation of vice-minister posts. 36 Saeima deputies voted against this. None of the members of the political party Latvia in First Place took part in the vote.
Amendments to both laws were rejected by the parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee twice before.
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SCANDAL WITH CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION
Ten persons involved in CVK criminal case; legitimacy of 14th Saeima elections not at risk
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETACorruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) reports that a total of ten people, including six officials, are involved in the criminal case organised on the 7th of November. This case investigated a procurement organised by the Central Election Commission (CVK) in 2021.
According to KNAB, the criminal case was launched on suspicion of possible large-scale fraud, abuse of official power that cause severe consequences, as well as support of crimes and document forgery.
BNN reported that on the 22nd of November KNAB performed measures. This included the detainment of CVK chairperson Kristīne Bērziņa. The ten people involved in the process, including CVK chairperson and five officials have the right for defence. The chairpersons and one businessman are also presented with security measures that do not involve the deprivation of freedom.
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INSOLVENCY ADMINISTRATOR’S MURDER CASE
Investigation of insolvency administrator’s murder officially done; criminal prosecution requested for four
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETALatvian State Police completed its investigation of the murder of insolvency administrator Mārtiņš Bunkus. On the 24th of November 2022 the case was submitted to Riga Court District Prosecution Office for the commencement of criminal prosecution of four people – three Latvian citizens and one Russian citizen, as confirmed by State Police.
During the investigation authorities were able to draw a clear picture of the crime and the people involved, including the roles each individual played – from the organisation all the way to the execution.
On the 24th of November State Police’s Criminal Police Department’s Organised, Severe and Serial Crimes Prevention Office’s Division 1 completed the investigation of one of the biggest contract killings in the history of State Police.
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STATE BORDER
State Border Guard: cross-border migrant flow organised by Belarus is on a rise in Latvia
Photo: Sgt. Edgars Grundšteins/FlickrIn recent weeks there has been an increase of the flow of migrants believed to be organised by the regime in Belarus in Latvia’s direction, as reported by the chief of State Border Guard Guntis Pujāts during the meeting held by the Saeima’s Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee on the 30th of November.
Considering the rising pressure from illegal immigration, Latvia’s government decided to extend the state of emergency in Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava and Daugavpils until the 10th of February 2022. It is worth mentioning that this state of emergency has been in effect in Latvia for more than a year already.
Pujāts said the border guard notice a great deal of involvement from the Belarusian State Border Guard in organising the illegal migrant flow.
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WAGES ON A RISE
Average wage in Latvia reaches EUR 1 384 in Q3 2022
Photo: Henriks Mackevičs/PexelsThe Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSP) reports that the average gross wage for full time work was EUR 1 384 a month in Q3 2022. Compared with the same quarter of 2021, this is an increase of EUR 82 or 6.3%.
The hourly rate before taxes was EUR 9.08. Over the course of the year it increased by 5.6%. Compared with Q2, the average monthly gross wage increased by 1.6% in Q3, whereas the hourly rate went down by 1.3%. The average wage after taxes in Latvia is EUR 1 013.
However, considering the consumer price increase, the net labour wage in Latvia has dropped by 12.9%.
This indicates a sharp drop in the purchasing power of employed people for the third consecutive quarter, CSP warns.
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AIRCRAFT CRASH
Investigation report: aircraft of German businessman reported cabin pressure falling before crashing near Ventspils
Illustrative image. Photo: UnsplashGerman Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation published a report on the investigation of the crash of the aircraft owned by businessman Karl-Peter Griesemann that took place not far from Ventspils on the 4th of September.
When the businessman’s aircraft left the airfield in Heres, Spain, on the 4th of September to fly to Cologne, there were no signs of this flight becoming the last for Griesemann and his three passengers.
The most recent investigation report details what happened. Shortly before 16:00 p.m. the aircraft made a turn to the north-east and reached planned altitude at half an hour later. The pilot and the air traffic controller then shared a friendly conversation.
Twelve minutes later the pilot contacted the air traffic controller again and reported a problem with the aircraft’s air conditioner, as well as permission for an emergency landing.
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PROTESTS IN CHINA
China to ease restrictions after widespread protests
Photo: PixabayDespite the increasing number of infected, China is on the way to easing the harsh Covid-19 restrictions, and this decision comes after widespread protests, the BBC writes.
On the 1st of December, dozens of urban districts in Shanghai and Guangzhou were exempted from strict quarantine and stay-at-home requirements, despite the high and increasing number of infected persons. China’s vice premier has announced that the country is facing a new situation. This announcement follows widespread protests that swept over China in the last week of November.
The protests sparked after the death of ten people in a fire accident in Urumqi. It is believed that restrictions prevented rescuers from providing help in time. The authorities deny this.
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CONFLICT IN THE ALLIANCE
USA maintains moderate attitude towards Russia
Photo: FlickrNATO is keeping a moderate attitude towards Russia thanks to the USA, despite calls from several countries to be more strict, writes Lithuanian media LRT.
The main reason for recent disagreements is communication between Admiral Rob Bauer, NATO’s chair of the Military Committee, and Russian General Valery Gerasimov. At the beginning of the war, the United States and Russia created a conflict resolution unit at the military-political level to avoid wider military activity in the world. Some NATO members raised the question of whether such talks are necessary.
The anonymous source in NATO stated that, in general, the countries of Eastern Europe, the Scandinavian countries, and the countries of former Yugoslavia want to have «zero tolerance» towards Russia, while the countries of Western Europe and the Mediterranean region support moderate actions. Washington’s leading role is seen as allowing moderation to be maintained for now, while Great Britain is increasingly leaning towards a tougher approach. Germany in NATO has been almost invisible for the last two years – it pays, gives, and remains silent.
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BNN SUMMARY OF THE WEEK: Government novelties. CVK under investigation. Protests in China
