Unity List and National Alliance agree to form government in Latvia
The party "Apvienotais saraksts" (Unity List) has agreed with the National Alliance to form a government; together they hold 51 seats in the Saeima. The news roundup also covers an airBaltic booking data leak and an attempted arson at a drone factory in Estonia.
In Latvia, the party "Apvienotais saraksts" (Unity List) has agreed with the National Alliance to form a government together. The two parties hold a combined 51 seats in the Saeima, the Latvian parliament. The details come from LSM's plain-language news roundup of 15 November.
Forming the government
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has asked the National Alliance to put forward candidates on Monday for the posts of interior, culture and welfare minister. National Alliance leader Ilze Indriksone said the plan is to keep Jānis Dombrava as interior minister, while the current minister Nauris Puntulis is the candidate for culture minister. The party has not yet decided on a candidate for welfare minister.
Indriksone said it has been agreed that the National Alliance will chair the Saeima's National Economy Committee. The party also intends to lead the Legal Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. Kulbergs has urged the current defence minister, Raivis Melnis, to continue in the next government as well. The two parties still have to agree on specific tasks in each sector. Indriksone added that they have also agreed not to make an additional deal with any other party.
Other news
Data on passenger flight bookings made with the airline airBaltic has leaked. The leak affected more than 600,000 bookings made online between 18 July and 12 November. Passengers' first names, surnames, booking numbers and flight information were exposed, but not payment details, travel documents or other sensitive information. At present nothing suggests the data has been misused. The airline warns people to be careful with fraudulent emails and phone calls, and says its messages are always sent from the "airbaltic.com" address.
In Estonia, eight people linked to Latvia have been detained over an attempt to set fire to the building of an Estonian drone manufacturer. It happened overnight into Saturday. The Estonian Internal Security Service confirms that the Russian intelligence service is linked to the arson attempt.
Meanwhile, in Riga the light festival "Staro Rīga!" began on Sunday. A total of 52 illuminated objects can be seen in the city's streets and parks, and the festival runs every evening until 18 November.
