Edgars Tavars, the leader of the “Apvienotā saraksta” faction in the Saeima, said during the parliamentary debate on Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s (JV) annual report about the government’s achievements and plans that her government could be considered the weakest since Latvia’s restoration of independence.
The politician pointed out that during Siliņa’s government, “small issues” were being addressed, but large plans were not being implemented, with only talk about the tasks that still needed to be done.
Tavars focused on civil defence issues, indicating that they have been neglected, and that public safety has not been improved.
He also noted that the word “done” was never mentioned in Siliņa’s report. “I don’t think anyone is surprised that behind these slogans, you can only see the preservation of seats,” Tavars criticized the government’s work.
The deputy questioned whether the replacement of parliamentary secretaries and ministers would truly contribute to enhancing security.
“On the one hand, the opposition should be happy with such government performance,” Tavars said, adding that the opposition is not pleased because valuable time is being wasted, preventing the country from becoming safer and more economically developed.
It has been previously reported that the Prime Minister’s report covers several areas. Regarding defence, it was noted that there are 1 715 facilities in Latvia that fully or partially meet the requirements for shelters, allowing for the accommodation of 531 416 people, or 28.4% of Latvia’s population.
The report also highlighted that a contract has been signed for the creation and implementation of the “ABS+” early warning system, which is expected to be completed by the 29th of April this year.
The report stated that last year, defence spending exceeded one billion euros for the first time in Latvia’s history. From next year, up to 4% of GDP will be allocated to strengthening defence capabilities, with a target of up to 5% in the near future, according to the Prime Minister.
Additionally, the report indicated that the National Armed Forces (NBS) personnel resources have been increased as planned, with the number of professional soldiers in the NBS rising by 400 in 2024. Furthermore, the reserve soldier system has been expanded by raising the age limit for reservists and increasing the frequency of training, and the necessary number of conscripts for the National Defence Service has been achieved.
In foreign policy, the report noted that Latvia maintained an active political dialogue with the US in security and economic matters last year and participated in G7+ group meetings concerning support for Ukraine’s energy sector, coordinated by the US State Department. The report also mentioned that significant efforts will be put into building cooperation with the new US administration to achieve Latvia’s NATO goals.
The report confirmed that Latvia’s unchanging priority is to curb Russia’s military machinery, and in 2025, Latvia will continue its work to promote Russia’s international isolation and hold it accountable for war crimes committed in Ukraine, as well as prevent Russia’s election to key positions in international organizations.
In health, the report noted that work will continue this year to improve the availability, quality, and management of healthcare services. The report stated that several development planning documents for the period until 2027 have been created and will be submitted to the government for approval this year, focusing on oncology, maternal and child health, and cardiovascular diseases.