Latvia today: Lāčplēsis Day in Riga, Kulbergs seeks €3 billion in savings, culture workers march

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Latvia marks Lāčplēsis Day on Wednesday 11 November, honouring those who fought for the country’s independence; on this day in 1919 the Latvian army drove the forces of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov out of Pārdaugava. In Riga, a commemoration is held at Sudrabkalniņš at 15:00, a torch procession sets off from the Riga Brethren Cemetery at 16:40, and freedom fighters are honoured at the Freedom Monument at 18:00, followed by a fire raft on the Daugava by the Stone Bridge. The National History Museum in Riga Castle is free from 10:00 to 20:00. Full programme

Andris Kulbergs of the United List, nominated to be Latvia’s next prime minister, said on Tuesday that €3 billion must be saved over four years and €600 million in spending reviewed straight away. He wants a review of more than 200 tax reliefs, which cost €2.5 billion a year, and suggested targeting the €25 monthly family benefit at lower-income families. He said a deficit-free budget by 2030 was no longer achievable, did not rule out a minority government and promised to announce his next step this week. Full story

Several hundred culture workers marched through central Riga on Tuesday, from the Latvian National Opera to the Latvian National Museum of Art, demanding a long-term plan to raise their pay. The organisers say average gross pay is €1,395 in heritage institutions and €1,365 in the performing arts, against €1,926 across the public sector. Full story

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new scheme for making apartment blocks more energy efficient: instead of grants, flat owners will borrow from banks and get an interest subsidy of 1.6 to 2 percentage points a year. The scheme is run by Altum, the state development finance institution, opens on 4 January 2027 and is due to support at least 9,000 flats by 2030. Full story

The government also backed spending €5.98 million from 2027 on about 12 prefabricated bridge sets for the state reserve. Riga can borrow them free of charge to build a temporary Daugava crossing while the Vanšu cable-stayed bridge is rebuilt; the city will pay for building and running it, and reconstruction is due to start in autumn 2027. Full story

The Stability! party no longer has a faction on Riga City Council after councillor Andrejs Kozlovs joined the Sovereign Power/Young Latvians Union faction; a faction needs at least three members from one party. Stability!, which won five seats in 2025, is left with two councillors, and one of them, Jakovs Pliners, is giving up his seat for health reasons. Full story

Abroad: peace talks between the United States, Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi resume on Wednesday morning after a first day of nearly four hours. No agreement has been reported; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks “very productive”. Full story

Useful today

• Weather: mostly cloudy with rain in places and sleet or snow in the east, a light to moderate southerly wind and highs of +1C to +5C, +5C to +7C on the coast; some roads will be slippery. Riga: grey, with brief rain possible from the afternoon and highs of +4C to +5C. Tonight, rain in many places and gusts of up to 14 m/s on the coast, according to LVĢMC, the state weather service.
• Riga roads: the 11 November Embankment is closed between the Vanšu Bridge and the Stone Bridge from 17:00 until midnight, with two-way traffic on Pils Street and Dome Square. Traffic may be stopped along the torch procession route from 16:40, and Bāriņu Street in Āgenskalns stays closed until midday on Thursday, with buses 4, 7, 8, 21, 25, 38, 39 and 55 diverted. Details
• Lāčplēsis Day is a remembrance day, not a day off, and the working day is not shortened. The next public holiday is Proclamation Day on Wednesday 18 November; work ends an hour earlier on Tuesday 17 November. Is today a day off?
• Name days: Ojārs, Rainers and Nellija.
• Restaurant week at nine Latvian castles and manors, including Bīriņi, Mālpils, Cesvaine and Jaunpils, starts today and runs until 22 November. Venues

Sport

Rīgas Zeļļi, fifth in EuroCup Group A with three wins and three defeats, play second-placed Aris in Thessaloniki at 20:00 Riga time. Preview

Volleyball champions Robežsardze/RSU lost the first leg of their CEV Challenge Cup tie 3-0 at Takovo in Serbia on Tuesday; Dāvis Stroķis scored 11 points. The return leg is in Riga next week. Full story

The International Luge Federation (FIL) votes on Thursday on letting Russian athletes compete as neutrals; Latvia will vote against, and its sports law keeps them out of the Sigulda World Cup race either way. Full story