The conflict between the government and its workers – teachers and medical workers – is ever-brewing. It is logical for both sectors to combine their strength to force PM Krišjānis Kariņš to open up the wallet some more. If «critical mass» is already reached, what needs to happen to tick off police officers, firefighters and diplomats?
At the same time, the PM shows more and more of his «mercilessness», unbending character and even spite, a side of him previously unknown to Latvian residents.
Kariņš, the government and economic experts continue talking of ways to transform Latvia’s economy.
The scandal with Latvia’s food procurement for army needs continues accumulating «snow» – a large avalanche is expected. Reports are coming in of the first detainees. There was also an attempt to remove Minister of Defence Ināra Mūrniece by the opposition, likely in an attempt to make her out to be responsible.
As Mūrniece’s colleague Anda Čakša said – once you take office in a ministry, you become responsible for everything that has ever happened in this institution’s history. The latter is also involved in a scandal of her own – having ended up on the bad side of the sports community. The Ministry of Education should have warned, considering the existing geopolitical situation, that it has mixed feelings towards the Olympic games and aggressor next door.
In opposition to the Lithuanian minister who keeps forcing Germany to send more troops as soon as possible, politicians of other neighbouring countries say: first the country should do its homework and provide troops with proper accommodation.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Strength in unity; Rights to declare; Entertainment for opposition; Barking orders; How to look at this…; Free mouth; The further, the crazier; Germany hesitates.
STRENGTH IN UNITY
Latvian medical workers to join teachers in strike
Photo: Pixabay/PexelsOrganisations representing medical workers and their members are committed to go on strike and join the protest planned by teachers in April, said President of Latvian Medical Association (LAB) Ilze Aizsilniece.
She said the lacking funding towards patient care and medicines, as well as the meager pay increase will not change anything for the country’s healthcare sector that has been on a diet funding-wise for the past 30 years.
«It does not even cover inflation and does not bring us any closer to the average level of our neighbours – Estonia and Lithuania – or Europe,» said Aizsilniece.
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RIGHTS TO DECLARE
Latvian State Revenue Service suspected of illegally calculating taxes on residents’ behalf
Latvian Ombudsman Juris Jansons. Photo: Ieva Leiniša/LETAIn an inspection case of actions of the State Revenue Service (VID), Latvia’s Ombudsman Juris Jansons found that this institution has illegally filled residents’ income declarations and calculated taxes on behalf of taxpayers, as reported by the Ombudsman’s Office.
Such actions from VID negatively impacts the interests of many of Latvia’s residents.
In 2021 the law provided VID new authority – submit income declarations on behalf of residents based on information available to VID and perform relevant tax calculation. This applies to cases when taxpayers were required to submit annual income declarations but did not. This does not mean VID needs to inform taxpayers who are required to submit annual income declaration but who have not done this by a specific deadline.
According to the information provided by residents to the ombudsman, they found out about VID’s new authority when tax collection commenced.
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ENTERTAINMENT FOR OPPOSITION
BNN IN FOCUS | Latvian Minister of Defence withstands no-trust vote
Latvian Minister of Defence Ināra Mūrniece. Photo: Zane Bitere/LETAAt an extraordinary meeting of the Saeima on Wednesday, the 15th of March, the majority of deputies declined the proposal submitted by opposition deputies to dismiss Minister of Defence Ināra Mūrniece. During debates the majority of politicians, including some of the members of the opposition, admitted that Mūrniece is not at fault. Nevertheless, it was her duty to check the implemented and planned procurements related to National Armed Forces, considering the geopolitical situation.
Previously it was reported that a necessary number of signatures was collected to request her dismissal – 18 in total.
The initiator of this act – Latvian in First Place – noted that «the request is based on the scandalous procurement from the Ministry of Defence, which concluded during the minister’s term and which is currently under investigation».
During debates the minister stressed having done all she could to outline the problems related to the food procurement. However, she also said she «cannot take full responsibility for decisions made during a different minister’s term».
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BARKING ORDERS
Corruption watchdog detains three in relation to scandalous Latvian army food procurement
Photo: Zane Bitere/LETACorruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has commenced criminal proceedings and has detained three persons in relation to the food procurement for the needs of Latvia’s National Armed Forces.
On Thursday, the 16th of March, KNAB performed investigative procedures in multiple locations in Riga and elsewhere in Latvia, including 14 court-sanctioned searches. Activities are related to the procurement organised by the State Centre for Defence Logistics and Procurement (VALIC) for food supplies for the needs of Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), KNAB explains.
KNAB has commenced an in-depth investigation and has evaluated both the publicly accessible information and confidential information about the procurement.
The criminal procedure was commenced in accordance with three sections of the Criminal Law – stating false information and large-scale income, abuse of power for selfish purposes and disclosure of confidential information.
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HOW TO LOOK AT THIS…
Latvian Ministry of Education reconsiders and restores full funding for three Olympic athletes
Latvian Olympic athletes Krists Neilands (photo from 2015), Aļona Ostapenko and Toms Skujiņš. Photo: LETA/BNN collageThe Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) plans to provide full financing for Latvian Olympic athletes Aļona Ostapenko, Toms Skujiņš and Krists Neilands. The participated in sports tournaments together with Russian and Belarusian athletes.
IZM notes that after assessing the situation with the stop to provision of funding for the aforementioned athletes, as well as after listening to opinions from Latvian Cycling Federation and Latvian Tennis Union, amendments were prepared to the agreement regarding state funding for Latvian Olympic athletes.
From Wednesday, the 15th of March, onward the approved amendments allow the continuation of full funding for aforementioned athletes, the ministry stresses.
«The money previously denied to athletes will be paid once amendments have come into force. Those are not any enormous amounts,» said Latvian Olympic Committee Communications Office manager Dace Gulbe confirmed on Wednesday. «This money was not diverted anywhere else, only denied. It is good that, in the end, what happened happened. There were still concerns about it in the morning.»
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FREE MOUTH
Scandalous Saeima deputy leaves For Stability and parliament faction
14th Saeima deputy Glorija Grevcova. Photo: Edijs Pālens/LETAThis week Saeima deputy Glorija Grevcova, who was found guilty of lying to the Central Election Commission by a court of first instance, has left the party For Stability and its Saeima faction, as confirmed by the deputy.
For Stability Saeima faction leader Aleksejs Rosļikovs previously said this decision was made by Grevcova after the court ruling that sentenced her to 160 hours of community service.
Grevcova, on the other hand, told LETA that her decision to leave is not related to the ruling. She said it was an «independent and weighed decision».
She also said she has no plans to return to the party or the faction even if she is acquitted in the final ruling.
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THE DEEPER IN, THE CRAZIER
Russia’s ex-president orders hit on Italy’s minister of defence, newspaper claims
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. Photo: REUTERS/SCANPIX/LETARussian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev has promised mercenary organisation Wagner Group a reward of USD 15 million for the assassination of Italy’s Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, claims Italian Il Foglio newspaper.
The newspaper references to the warning issued by the Italian intelligence to the government about the possible planning of this assassination. Italy’s intelligence is concerned about Medvedev’s statements in which he called Crosetto a «rare fool», responding the minister’s statements that World War Three would come if Russian tanks enter Kyiv.
Medvedev currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This means he has influence over decision-making in the Kremlin.
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GERMANY HESITATES
BNN ANALYSES | Landsbergis wants clarity; issues an ultimatum to Berlin
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. Photo: U.S. Department of State/FlickrLinas Jegelevičius
The tiff between Vilnius and Berlin over a German brigade in Lithuania has spewed additional sparkles this week after the Lithuanian Foreign Minister and chairman of the ruling Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU-LCD), Gabrielius Landsbergis, issued an ultimatum-like statement.
If Germany delays the decision and insists that the issue of its deployment is up to NATO exclusively, Vilnius will seek «partners who are able to do that», i.e. station a permanent brigade in Lithuania.
In the wake of the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Berlin has pledged a brigade for Lithuania’s defense from possible Russian aggression, but there is no unanimous opinion on whether it should be permanent or stationed in Germany.
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BNN SUMMARY OF THE WEEK: Protest picks up in strength. Wall of a minister. Along in the Saeima
