Siliņa Criticizes Prime Minister Kulbergs Over Fuel Price Inaction
Former Prime Minister Evika Siliņa says the excise tax cut has not stopped fuel prices from rising, and expects Andris Kulbergs' promised 20-cent relief to move forward in the Saeima.
Evika Siliņa, a member of Latvia's parliament (the Saeima), chair of its European Affairs Committee and a former prime minister, said on 2 November on the TV24 programme "Ziņu TOP" that government explanations about rising energy and fuel prices are no longer enough for the public. She criticized current Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, saying the promised fuel price reduction has not yet been delivered.
Price rises and government decisions
Siliņa said international events directly affect household spending: electricity and heating bills are going up, as are fuel prices linked to the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. A decision taken in spring to cut the excise tax is still in force, yet prices keep climbing. In her words, people do not want explanations of why the government cannot do something; they want a solution.
She acknowledged that Latvia's ability to influence events around the Strait of Hormuz is limited. Fuel prices are formed in a shared market, so high prices are a problem elsewhere too, for example in France.
The 20-cent promise
On planned measures, Siliņa expressed hope that Kulbergs' promised 20-cent support, meaning a cut in the fuel price, will be advanced in the Saeima. She said the Budget Committee had adopted another additional proposal, but the 20 cents has not yet been approved.
International context
Siliņa said Europe has already felt the effects: last year Germany and other countries saw shifts in the values people demand, and people are tired of war. She added that Europe is actively supporting Ukraine.
Regarding the United States, she said talks with Washington are not going easily. According to the latest reports she cited, US President Donald Trump has agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a small quantity of oil to be sent to the US, but she described this as only a short-term fix. In her view, prolonged high fuel prices affect the entire economy and all its segments, not just drivers.
