Latvia today: government vote could come on Tuesday, food prices fall, regional fares review

Top stories

Edvards Smiltēns of the United List, speaker of the Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, said he hoped the new government and the Saeima’s standing committees could be approved as early as Tuesday, 17 November, at two extraordinary sittings. He said Tuesday was not a fixed deadline and that quality mattered more than speed; if it proves too soon, the vote will take place after the 18 November holiday. Full story

President Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Thursday that talks on forming the government were moving at a “measured” and satisfactory pace and that he saw no grounds for concern. Andris Kulbergs, whose United List won 41 of the 100 seats, has not yet said which parties will join his coalition. Full story

Speaking in Dublin at the European Political Community summit, which brought together more than 50 leaders on Thursday, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Russia was using talk of a new European security order to get Europe to give Ukraine less help. The leaders of the EU’s 27 member states hold an informal meeting in Dublin today. Full story

Food in Latvia was 5.4% cheaper in October than a year earlier, the finance ministry said, but it warned that high energy costs will eventually reach supermarket shelves and food prices are likely to rise next year. Annual inflation was 3.1% in October, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP); diesel averaged €2.079 a litre, up 38.1% on a year earlier. Full story

The average wholesale electricity price in Latvia rose 4% in October from September to €112.76 per megawatt hour, according to a market review by Latvenergo, the state-owned energy company. Daily prices passed €300 several times in early November. Full story

The Public Transport Council reviews fares on subsidised regional routes at an online meeting at 13:00 today. The Transport Ministry’s preferred option is an extra €15 million a year, which would raise fares by 10% on average while keeping current concessions; without extra money, about 794 bus services would have to be cut. The final decision will be for the next government. Full story

Three people have been charged in one of seven criminal cases over suspected rigged purchases of medical equipment at Latvian hospitals, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said at a news conference at KNAB, the anti-corruption bureau. The cases cover eight procurements worth about €7 million, and prosecutors say more people will be charged. Full story

CSC Telecom, a bulk text message provider, said it had closed an exposed database that, according to researchers at Cybernews, held more than 125 million text messages, including authentication codes and bank alerts. Swedbank has suspended the service, and the police and the data protection regulator are involved. Full story

The Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) has asked the government for precise calculations before it cuts posts in public administration to save €85 million, and opposes cuts to benefits and pensions. Full story

Useful today

• Weather: mostly cloudy with occasional rain and sleet, and highs of +3C to +7C; coastal gusts of 15–19 m/s. Riga: mostly light rain, highs of +4C to +5C. Tonight rain, sleet and, in the east, snow; some roads will be slippery and lows will be 0C to +4C, according to LVĢMC, the state weather service.
• Streets in Riga Old Town close to traffic for the parade rehearsal on 17 November and Proclamation Day on 18 November, and parking is banned on the 11 November Embankment from 20:00 on Monday. Where you cannot drive or park
• The next public holiday is Proclamation Day on Wednesday 18 November. Parade, fireworks and what is open
• Staro Rīga, the city’s festival of light, runs from 15 to 18 November, 17:00 to 23:00, with 52 works; for the first time each has an audio description for blind visitors. Full story
• Name days: Eižens, Jevgeņijs and Jevgeņija.

Sport

Latvia’s women beat France 22-3 in their floorball World Championship qualifier in Riga, with Simona Grāpēna scoring six goals, and play Denmark at 19:00 Riga time for first place in Group D. Full story

The Latvian men’s volleyball cup semi-finals are set: holders Ezerzeme/Daugavpils University/Homelike meet Jēkabpils Lūši, and the young Liepāja Sports Games School side face champions Robežsardze/RSU. Full story In Sigulda, Dāvis Kaufmanis and Edgars Ungurs won the Latvian two-man bobsleigh title by two hundredths of a second. Full story