Weekly Latvian news digest

Celebrating 34 years of freedom since the end of Soviet occupation! | 2025 digest index

Monday, October 13 – Sunday, October 19, 2025

The ruling coalition is facing significant pressure following a new survey. The poll, released on October 16, suggests a majority of Latvians want the current government coalition to resign. This political instability is compounded by internal party strife, as a prominent member, Olegs Burovs, quit the Progressives party on October 13, citing disagreements over the party's direction.

Amid this political turmoil, the Saeima passed a significant domestic violence law on October 17. The legislation is intended as an alternative to the Istanbul Convention, aiming to prevent violence and protect victims, though it has been a subject of political debate.

In a separate legal matter, Latvia has been linked to an international crime ring selling fake fuel. Authorities discovered that counterfeit gasoline and diesel, produced in Latvia, were being sold to consumers at gas stations in Spain.

On the international stage, Latvia reinforced its support for Ukraine by signing a memorandum of understanding on October 16. The agreement focuses on long-term support and Ukraine's future integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Latvian municipalities are raising concerns about the growing and unpredictable costs of a state-mandated data system. The expense, which has already reached tens of millions of euros, is putting a strain on local government budgets.

In more positive economic news, the Latvian ice cream business "Rūjienas Saldējums" is set to be acquired by Froneri, a company jointly owned by Nestlé and PAI Partners. The deal was confirmed on October 15.

Tourism also showed a strong performance, with the number of tourists staying in Latvian accommodations rising by 5.5% in August compared to the same month last year.

In environmental funding, twelve Latvian projects are competing for EU Natura 2000 awards. The projects, announced on October 14, focus on conservation and raising public awareness of protected nature areas.

Global mobility has seen a shift, as the United States passport has dropped out of the world's top 10 most powerful for the first time. The new ranking places the US passport in 11th place, a significant fall from its 6th place position just five years ago. The top spots are now held by France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain.

Tensions in European security continue, with Russia criticizing NATO's response to recent airspace violations. Russian officials slammed the alliance for what they called a "deliberately escalatory" reaction to incidents involving military aircraft, amid ongoing security concerns in the region.

The Mark Rothko Art Centre in Daugavpils, Latvia, has announced it is now accepting applications for its 2026 international symposium. Artists can apply until November 30, 2025, for a chance to participate in the event next year.

Politiskajā ainā Saeimā jaunu deputātu 16. oktobrī ievēlēja Artūrs Dinevičs, kurš aizvietos savu partijas biedru. Šādas politiskās pārmaiņas notiek vienlaikus ar satraucošiem sociāliem rādītājiem, jo pēdējie dati, kas publicēti 17. oktobrī, liecina, ka apmēram ceturtdaļa Latvijas iedzīvotāju joprojām ir pakļauti nabadzības vai sociālās atstumtības riskam.

Vides un lauksaimniecības jomā ir gan labas, gan satraucošas ziņas. No vienas puses, pētījumi liecina, ka Alūksnes ezers atrodas teiksmiskā stāvoklī, bet no otras puses, šogad valstī ir konstatēts vairāk leptospirozes gadījumu nekā parasti. Lauksaimniecībā novērota pretrunīga tendence: augļu audzēšanā izmantoto pesticīdu daudzums ir palielinājies, savukārt dārzeņu laukos – samazinājies. Tomēr daba šogad ir devusi labu dzērveņu ražu, un pārtikas izšķiešanas līmenis Latvijā ir aptuveni tāds pats kā vidēji Eiropas Savienībā.

Izglītības un kultūras jomā ir vērojamas vairākas pozitīvas iniciatīvas. Trīs jaunie zinātnieki saņēmuši stipendijas par savu darbu, bet novembrī Rīgā paredzēts notikt galvas ļautiņu dienas pasākums. Arī vietējās kopienas rāda atbildību – Kokneses bibliotēka, piemēram, grāmatas piegādā mājās pensionāriem. Rīgas dome apsver iespēju emitēt zaļos obligācijas, lai finansētu pilsētas attīstības projektus, kas uzsvērtu ilgtspēju.

Rīga, another October two decades ago