LSM weekly roundup covers minister, election finance and grain transit

LSM’s weekly newsletter highlighted children’s healthcare, a former minister’s drink-driving case, election campaign financing, airspace security and Russian grain transit as key issues in Latvia.

Children’s healthcare remains difficult to access

Parents may have to wait from several days to as long as a year for children’s healthcare services, with state-funded dental care particularly difficult to access.

Latvia’s State Audit Office has concluded that, although children’s healthcare is a legal priority, the country lacks a functioning system to ensure that priority. It said the services that must be provided to children and where they should be available have not been clearly defined, while data on access does not always reflect reality.

Former minister’s case sent to prosecutors

The case involving former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks, who was detained after driving with a blood alcohol level of more than three per mille, has been sent to the prosecutor’s office, which will decide whether to bring charges.

After his detention on September 12, the Union of Greens and Farmers recalled him from the ministerial post and expelled him from the Latvian Farmers’ Union. However, Uzulnieks remains the first candidate on the party’s Zemgale list for the Saeima elections because candidates can no longer be removed from the list at this stage.

Parties criticised over election promises

An analysis of the parties’ economic proposals for the 15th Saeima elections found that they often promise higher incomes and pensions, lower taxes and faster economic growth without explaining the costs or where the money would come from.

Anti Corruption Bureau to examine donations

Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau will examine information about gifts worth a total of 419,598 euros that former Saeima member Julija Stepanenko received from her father. The gifts included 239,598 euros in cash and an apartment in Riga valued at 180,000 euros.

Stepanenko has said the gifts were family assistance. The bureau will assess whether they were connected to election campaign financing or other possible violations.

Allied fighter jets to reinforce airspace security

Allied fighter jets will join Latvia’s forces in protecting the country’s airspace during the Saeima elections. They will strengthen patrols and respond to possible airspace violations or other threats.

Russian grain transit could become more expensive

Latvia plans to increase railway infrastructure fees for Russian grain shipments by 300 percent. The Saeima will also consider a complete ban on the transit of Russian grain.

Fifty three lawmakers voted for the amendments and 12 voted against them. The new rules will remain in force until the end of the year. Lawmakers from Latvia First and Stability voted against the amendments. Farmers in Jekabpils protested and called for the grain flows to be stopped.