Last week the Minister of Education and Science, the Prime Minister and parties of the ruling coalition met with the council of Latvian Education and Science Workers’ Union (LIZDA) in an attempt to find a compromise for demands of the trade union. After multiple meetings, however, the trade union concluded no compromise is possible and announced it will be going on an indefinite strike on 19 September.
The Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB) started publishing a series of analytical articles regarding different popular topics. The objective is providing the information space with reliable information to help residents better understand ongoing processes and be able to predict their development. The first article is dedicated to the Russian-Ukrainian war, which, according to SAB, will likely last until spring next year. The article also details certain consequences of this war for Latvia.
At the beginning of September there was information reported that Latvijas gāze JSC was not able to secure the necessary volume of natural gas for the winter season as required by the Energy Law – 1.15 TWh. Now the Office of the Prosecutor General will investigate the company’s responsibility.
Latvia’s PM Krišjānis Kariņš admitted that the planned support for households will not be enough due to increased energy resource prices. As a result, the government will likely have to borrow money to afford support measures.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: On strike; At least until spring; Investigation of responsibility; No free money; Emergency intervention; Darker and colder; Adapted vaccines; Ukraine.
ON STRIKE
Latvian teachers’ trade union decides to go on strike after all
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETALatvian Trade Union of Education and Science Workers (LIZDA) decided at an extraordinary meeting to commence the indefinite strike on 19 September, rejecting the offer composed by the Ministry of Education and Science, said LIZDA head Inga Vanaga.
She said the strike will happen because the compromises proposed so far are insufficient and LIZDA believes the government’s offer is aimed at dividing teachers and proposes no real solutions for all groups of teachers.
«We’ve been trying to find a solution regarding the workload for teachers since 2016. It was possible to make these decisions earlier, before the protest and before the start of the strike procedure,» said Vanaga.
More here
AT LEAST UNTIL SPRING
SAB: war in Ukraine will continue until spring at the very least
Photo: FlickrIf the situation continues developing, we can expect the war may continue with varying intensity until spring next year, as reported by Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB).
On Tuesday, 13 September, SAB started publishing a series of analytical articles about different important topics. The first article is dedicated to the Russian-Ukrainian war and its consequences for Latvia.
If the current situation continues developing, there is a high possibility of the war continuing with varying intensity at the very least until spring of next year. Under current conditions Russian armed forces have a shortage of troops and combat capabilities to overcome resistance in Ukraine, which is further compounded by the attacks of Ukrainian armed forces on Russian logistical infrastructure, SAB reports.
Signals coming from Russia’s foreign policy indicate the country is not interested in ending the conflict.
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INVESTIGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY
Authorities to investigate Latvijas gāze’s decisions in creating gas reserves
Aigars Kalvītis. Photo: Edijs Pālens/LETAThe Office of the Prosecutor General of Latvia has commenced an investigation of the situation with gas reserves for the 2022/2023 heating season, specifically the responsibility of Latvijas Gāze JSC and compliance of the public trader’s decisions to the Energy Law, as LETA was informed by the office.
In parallel to that, the office continues evaluating information provided in different reports. Some decisions regarding the possible start of criminal proceedings will be sent to the State Security Service and others to the Office for Prevention of Laundering of Proceeds Derived from Criminal Activity.
As of 1 September the gas storage volume owned by Latvijas gāze in Inčukalns is 0.2946 TWh, according to the company’s report to Nasdaq Riga.
This basically means the company does not have a sufficient volume of gas to keep households in Latvia supplied with natural gas this heating season. On top of that, the company thereby admitted failure in complying with the requirement listed in the Energy Law, according to which the company was supposed to accumulate 1.15 TWh by the end of August.
More here
NO FREE MONEY
Latvian PM admits country will have to borrow money to support residents during energy crisis
Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš. Photo: Zane Bitere/LETALatvia’s government will likely have to borrow funding in order to afford support activities for residents to overcome the energy crisis, said Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš in his interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma on Wednesday, 14 September.
The politician stressed that the government has already approved a wide package of support measures. However, this may not be enough, and some form of price cap may be set. Above this cap residents’ payments for energy resources will not increase. Instead additional costs will be covered from the state budget.
According to the PM, the government is waiting for estimates from the Ministry of Economics in order to implement caps appropriately.
According to Kariņš, if funding for support measures is taken from budget surplus, funding for more expansive support will have to be borrowed.
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EMERGENCY INTERVENTION
European Commission proposes emergency intervention in energy markets
Photo: UnsplashThe European Commission (EC) has proposed an emergency intervention in Europe’s energy markets to resolve the dramatic price rise, as mentioned in EC’s announcement published on Wednesday, 14 September.
The European Union has faced consequences that came from imbalance between supply and demand of energy, which is believed to be the result of Russia using its energy resources as a weapon.
To reduce the growing pressure this creates for European households and enterprises, the EC proposes emergency measures to reduce electricity demand. This is also intended to assist consumers reduce costs, as confirmed by the commission.
The first step to resolve the high prices problem is reducing demand, which could affect electricity prices and calm the market in general.
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DARKER AND COLDER
Riga to adopt energy austerity measures
Photo: PexelsBy adopting energy austerity measures Riga City Council hopes to reduce energy consumption by 15% and save up to EUR 10 million, said Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis at a press-conference on Thursday, 15 September.
Representatives of Riga Energy Agency and Rīgas gaisma reported that energy austerity measures provide for setting interior air temperature at +20.5° C at municipal institutions and schools. At night air temperature is to be reduced by four degrees.
Schools will be under an additional regime. Once teaching is over, interior air temperature is to be reduced by a couple of degrees. At night interior air temperature at schools is to be reduced by the aforementioned four degrees.
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ADAPTED VACCINES
Adapted Covid-19 vaccines becomes available in Latvia
Photo: UnsplashAs of Monday, 12 September, adapted Covid-19 vaccines are available at general practitioners and vaccination rooms in Latvia, as reported by the Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre (SPKC).
According to SPKC, these vaccines are approved for use across the European Union. It is also planned the next shipment of adapted vaccines will arrive in Latvia next week. To sign up for a jab with an adapted vaccine, residents should contact their general practitioner or vaccination room. It is also possible to sign up at Manavakcina.lv.
Covid-19 vaccination is recommended for all residents.
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UKRAINE
440 graves found in liberated Izium
Photo: AP/ScanpixUkrainian authorities have found a mass burial site of more than 440 bodies in the eastern city of Izium on Thursday, 15 September, that was recaptured from Russian forces, informs British media The Guardian.
Serhiy Bolvinov, the chief police investigator for Kharkiv region, told that some of the people had been killed by shelling and airstrikes.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy likened the discovery to what happened in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, saying in a Thursday, 15 September, night video address:
«Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible.»
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BNN summary of the week: Teachers on strike. Energy resources. War in Ukraine
