BNN summary of the week: More support. Eastern border. Only in Latvian language. Nord Stream

With 1 October coming up and 14th Saeima elections on the nose, both Saeima deputies and members of the Cabinet of Ministers worked tirelessly last week to polish their reputation one last time.
First of all the Saeima agreed on four additional support measures for households and businesses during the energy crisis. This support will cost the country EUR 442.22 million.
Latvia’s government also decided to declare a state of emergency on the eastern border following the announcement of mobilisation in Russia. The decision was also made to close one border checkpoint on the Latvian-Russian border.
In the education sector the Saeima passed in the final reading amendments to two laws, making it so that starting with 1 September 2023 all primary education programmes in Latvia are to be taught in official language only – Latvian.
As for the situation abroad, Danish authorities reported four leaks in Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines this week. Denmark’s prime minister has already said this was intentional sabotage.
In Ukraine, meanwhile, Russia finished ‘referendums’ within its occupied territories. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees, recognising the ‘independence’ of Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporozhzhia regions.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: More support; Eastern border; Only in Latvian language; Higher wages; Nord Stream sabotage; Tighter sanctions; Putin’s referendums; Higher general turnover.
MORE SUPPORT
Latvia passes amendments on more support for residents and companies during energy crisis
Photo: Ieva Lūka/LETAOn 29 September Latvia’s Saeima passed in the final reading amendments to the Law on Measures to Reduce Extreme Rise in Energy Prices that are intended to include additional support measures for households and businesses during the upcoming winter season.
The law states, among other things, that the first 100 kWh of electricity will be provided to households for a fixed tariff that does not exceed 160 EUR/MWh. For electricity consumption above 100 kWh households will pay in accordance with the price listed in their contracts.
If the volume of electricity consumed by households exceeds 500 kWh, these households will receive additional support they are eligible to if they use electricity for heating purposes. This support will be provided automatically – the compensation will be automatically transferred to electricity traders. This support requires funding of EUR 67 million.
Businesses will receive compensation equal to 50% of electricity price above 160 EUR/MWh. Electricity traders’ revenue lost to reduced electricity consumption is planned to be compensated from the state budget.
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EASTERN BORDER
Latvia declares state of emergency in regions bordering Russia
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETAFollowing the announcement of partial mobilisation in Russia, on 27 September Latvia’s government decided to declare a state of emergency in multiple regions bordering Russia until December. One border checkpoint will be closed down until then.
Considering Russia’s decision to announce partial mobilisation in the country, which is intended to increase and prolong the war in Ukraine, according to Latvian officials, and the need to prevent possible threats to Latvia’s domestic security, the government decided to declare a state of emergency in multiple border-crossing points and several regions. The state of emergency is planned to last from 28 September until 27 December 2022.
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ONLY IN LATVIAN LANGUAGE
Latvia to gradually transition to education only in official language
Photo: Ivars Soikāns/LETAOn Thursday, 29 September, Latvia’s Saeima passed in the final reading amendments that state all schools and kindergartens in the country are to transition to education only in official language within three years. Amendments were added to the Education Law and General Education Law.
According to suggested amendments, from 1 September 2023 onward, general education programmes are to be taught in Latvian language in 1st, 4th and 7th grade. From 1 September 2024 onward education programmes are to be taught in Latvian language in 2nd, 5th and 8th grade. From 1 September 2025 onward 3rd, 6th and 9th grade are to transition to education only in Latvian language.
From 1 September 2023 onward all kindergartens in the country are to switch to education in only official language as well.
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HIGHER WAGES
Minimal wages to be increased in Latvia next year
Photo: PixabayOn Wednesday, 28 September, Latvian parliament’s Social and Employment Matters Committee conceptually supported amendments to the Labour Law intended to increase minimal wage to EUR 620 in 2023 and EUR 700 in 2024.
For amendments to come to force, they have to be passed by the Saeima in three readings.
Authors of the legislative draft mention in the annotation that wages paid to residents in Latvia cannot be lower than the minimal amount set by the state.
The increase of minimal wage will promote the increase of income of households. It could motivate higher involvement in the labour market. Increase of minimal wages is also one of the tools to help reduce poverty among working people, as mentioned in the annotation to the legislative draft.
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NORD STREAM SABOTAGE
Reports coming in about major gas leaks from both Nord Stream pipelines in Baltic Sea
Photo: AP/SCANPIXDanish authorities have detected four leaks from Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which reach from Russia all the way to Germany. According to the Danish prime minister, those leaks were caused intentionally.
Two leaks in Nord Stream pipeline were found to the north-east of Bornholm Island, and two more leaks were found on Nord Stream 2 pipeline to the south-east of this island.
The leaks in Nord Stream were found in Danish and Swedish territorial waters, whereas the two leaks in Nord Stream 2 were found in Danish territorial waters exclusively.
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TIGHTER SANCTIONS
European Union plans even more sanctions against Russia
Photo: FlickrOn 28 September President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for the next package of sanctions against Russia. New sanctions are intended to cut Russia off additional revenue of EUR 7.5 billion.
«We do not accept the sham referenda nor any kind of annexation in Ukraine. And we are determined to make the Kremlin pay for this further escalation,» said the EC president in her speech, adding that new sanctions will be adopted against the aggressor.
The first part of the eighth package of sanctions will apply to different private and legal persons. The second part will introduce wide import restrictions for Russian products. The third will apply to Russian oil.
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PUTIN’S REFERENDUMS
Putin signs decrees recognising the «independence» of Kherson and Zaporizhia
Photo: FlickrThe decrees say that Russia «recognises independence» of Ukraine’s southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which Russia partly invaded earlier this year, as reported by the Ukrainian news media, The Kyiv Independent.
The move follows Russia’s sham referendums that it staged in the occupied territories on 23–27 September, claiming to ask locals if they wanted the territories to «join Russia.»
According to Russian officials, after the pseudo–referendum in the four regions on Tuesday, 27 September, it was announced that the votes ranged from 87% to 99.2% in favour of joining Russia. The head of the upper house of the Russian parliament said the chamber could consider annexation on 4 October, as reported earlier by BNN.
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HIGHER GENERAL TURNOVER
27 181 voters in Latvia use the right to vote early in 14th Saeima elections
Photo: Ivars Soikāns/LETASo far 27 181 or 1.76% of registered voters in Latvia have used the opportunity to vote early in the 14th Saeima elections, according to information from the Central Election Commission (CVK).
On Monday, 26 September, 11 316 voters used the option to hand in their votes for storage and on Thursday, 29 September, this option was used by 15 865 voters.
For comparison: in 13th Saeima elections four years ago this right was used by 15 085 or 0.97% of registered voters.
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