Fact check: Kulbergs vs LSM on benefits – who is right?

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs accused journalists at the public broadcaster's portal LSM of manipulating information after he presented a budget savings plan. LSM had reported that the head of government proposes reviewing benefits, while he said he does not intend to take support away from anyone. TVNET's fact-checking project "Faktomāts" examined both sides' claims, which matters because the plan could affect benefit recipients.

What happened

On 10 November, Kulbergs presented a plan to put state finances in order, aiming to save about 2.9 billion euros from 2027 to 2030. Measures mentioned include cutting public administration costs, changing procurement rules, sector reforms and more targeted support. LSM published an article on reviewing benefits and tax reliefs. Overnight into 11 November the prime minister said on social network X that the headlines created a misleading impression, and he repeated this in the morning. LSM replied that it had written about a review, not abolition.

What the documents show

In the presentation, benefits appear in the section on possible savings measures, but no specific benefit is proposed for abolition or reduction. Orally, Kulbergs cited the state family benefit (25 euros a month for one child) but gave no income thresholds or new amounts. The section "Targeting of support" is allocated 190 million euros over four years.

The billion euros mentioned in connection with disability is not a benefits total. A State Audit Office review shows at least 1.039 billion euros went to support in 2024, but cash payments were about half: 520.6 million euros. The rest is services and other institutions' spending. The auditors also noted the low threshold of disability group 3, yet there is no savings estimate or list of people who would lose status.

Conclusion

No decisions to abolish or reduce benefits have been made. Faktomāts concludes that LSM has the upper hand, since a review of benefits was indeed discussed, while the prime minister is right that no decision to take benefits away existed. LSM's Russian-language version wrongly described the billion in total spending as disability benefits.