Latvia & nearby
Progressives' leader Šuvajevs doubts opponents can unseat Riga mayor
Progressive Party leader Andris Šuvajevs says he sees little chance that the new post-election political landscape will topple Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs, even as another faction gathers signatures to remove him.
Jauns.lv · 6 Oct, 09:20
Kuldīga marks 15th Duke Jacob's Fair with large turnout of visitors
On Saturday, Kuldīga held its 15th annual Duke Jacob's Fair featuring stalls from every parish in the municipality, drawing an unusually large crowd that coincided with the day of Latvia's parliamentary elections.
Kurzemnieks · 6 Oct, 08:27
Latvian interior minister proposes ending mandatory eID card, allowing choice between passport and ID card
Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava has submitted amendments to parliament that would let residents choose between a passport and an ID card as their mandatory identity document, instead of requiring the eID card. The changes are proposed for the bill's second reading.
Bauskas Dzīve · 6 Oct, 08:26
Lithuania renews push to end EU's twice-yearly clock change
Ahead of the switch to winter time at the end of October, Lithuania's transport minister is renewing efforts to get EU agreement on scrapping the biannual clock change, though experts remain skeptical of success.
LRT English · 6 Oct, 08:24
Jelgava municipal tenants must sign fixed-term lease contracts by year's end
Jelgava's municipality is urging tenants of municipal apartments with open-ended or undated lease agreements to sign new fixed-term contracts by December 31. The requirement stems from a law in force since 2021.
Zemgales Ziņas · 6 Oct, 08:24
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Interior Minister Dombrava proposes scrapping mandatory eID card requirement
Latvia's Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava has submitted proposals to Saeima to remove the mandatory requirement for citizens and non-citizens aged 15 and older to obtain an eID card. The proposal comes as an amendment to the Law on Identity Documents.
TVNET · 6 Oct, 08:22
Migrant surge nearly fills Tallinn detention centre
A growing number of irregular migrants have recently been crossing from Latvia and Belarus toward Estonia, leaving Tallinn's detention centre nearly at capacity. Most of the detainees are expected to be returned to Latvia.
LSM (rus) · 6 Oct, 08:20
Unelected Saeima MPs to receive severance worth three monthly salaries
MPs who were not re-elected to Latvia's 15th Saeima will receive a one-off severance payment equal to three monthly salaries, though the total cost cannot yet be calculated. With roughly two-thirds of parliament's composition changing, payouts could total at least €0.85 million.
BNN · 6 Oct, 08:20
Ozolnieki Music School renamed Music and Art School
As of October 1, Ozolnieki Music School has been renamed Ozolnieki Music and Art School after launching a new visual arts program. The school currently has more than 140 students.
Zemgales Ziņas · 6 Oct, 07:32
Young man caught driving without a licence in Bauska
Police in Bauska detained a young man born in 2006 for driving a Toyota without a driving licence overnight on 2 October. An administrative violation case has been opened against him.
Bauskas Dzīve · 6 Oct, 07:31
Latvian farming consultant visits Austria to study cooperation and self-service farm shops
Agricultural consultant Liene Strazdiņa from Smiltene parish toured 18 farms in Austria's Styria region under an Erasmus+ exchange, gaining insights into farmer cooperation and self-service shops that she believes could be adapted in Latvia.
Ziemeļlatvija · 6 Oct, 07:26
Expert: Online voting is possible in Latvia, but public trust in state IT systems must come first
An IT expert argues that electronic voting in Latvia is neither legally nor technically impossible, but a string of recent IT failures means the public trust needed for it is currently missing. He calls for fixing government IT systems before expanding e-voting.
Žurnāls Ir · 6 Oct, 07:24
Tuesday forecast for Latvia: windy but still warm
Latvian meteorologists forecast windy conditions for Tuesday, while air temperatures are expected to remain relatively warm for early October.
Latvijas Avīze · 6 Oct, 07:23
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President Rinkēvičs to Meet with Representatives of "Progressives" and "New Unity"
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is meeting on Tuesday with representatives of the "Progressives" party and the "New Unity" (JV) party alliance, the President's Office announced.
TVNET · 6 Oct, 07:22
Gusty winds and autumn warmth forecast for Latvia on Tuesday
Latvia will see gusty winds reaching 13-18 meters per second on Tuesday, while temperatures climb to as high as +18 degrees. The weather is being shaped by the southern edge of a cyclone.
Jauns.lv · 6 Oct, 07:21
Car crashes into lamppost and tree in Kiviõli, Estonia, injuring driver
A 51-year-old woman was injured on October 5 when her car ran off the road in Kiviõli, Estonia, hitting a lamppost and then a tree. She was taken to hospital by ambulance.
ERR (rus) · 6 Oct, 07:21
Political Scientist: Coalition Partners May Demand More Ministries Than Election Math Suggests
Political scientist Juris Rozenvalds says potential coalition partners of the "United List" could seek more government posts than their election results would justify, partly to offset the political risk of sharing blame for unpopular decisions.
LSM (rus) · 6 Oct, 07:20
Fitness chain "MyFitness" briefly placed on Estonian consumer protection blacklist
Estonia's Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority temporarily added fitness chain "MyFitness" to its blacklist after the company failed to comply with a ruling ordering it to keep a long-term client's monthly fee unchanged. The dispute centered on a plan to raise the client's fee from €33 to €67.
Delfi · 6 Oct, 07:20
Why are some license plates blurred in Latvian police traffic violation videos?
A viewer contacted the TV program "Bez tabu" asking why license plates of traffic violators are blurred in some videos published by the State Police on social media, but not in others. The inconsistency has raised questions about what rules govern this practice.
TVNET · 6 Oct, 06:33
Tuesday to bring windy, partly sunny weather across Latvia
Latvia is set for a windy Tuesday with gusty southwesterly and westerly winds, though cloud cover will thin during the day and temperatures will rise to +15..+18 degrees. The weather is being shaped by the southern edge of a cyclone.
Bauskas Dzīve · 6 Oct, 06:26
461 people wait for state care in Latvia while one woman's mother has nowhere to go now
A woman describes being caught in a bureaucratic gap after her mother suffered a severe brain haemorrhage, needing round-the-clock care that isn't yet available. Latvia's Welfare Ministry confirms 461 adults are on the waiting list for state-funded long-term care, with an average wait of about a year.
Latvijas Avīze · 6 Oct, 06:23
Weekend road accidents in Kurzeme leave three injured, one dead
Kurzeme region recorded 33 traffic accidents over the weekend, with one pedestrian killed after being struck by a car at night. Police also caught several drivers under the influence, without licenses, or driving despite a ban.
irLiepāja · 6 Oct, 05:28
Politico: Latvian PM's election win is bittersweet as coalition puzzle remains unresolved
Politico Europe reports that the Latvian prime minister's election victory is bittersweet against a backdrop of tensions with Russia, while an upcoming EU sanctions showdown could strengthen politician Andris Kulbergs' position, leaving the coalition puzzle still unsolved.
Politico Europe · 6 Oct, 05:20
Dobele municipality marks International Day of Older Persons
On October 1, Dobele municipality held events for the International Day of Older Persons at the "Stariņš" day center and the "Tērvete" social care center. All 215 residents of the care center were greeted, with a musical performance from the "KPTT" boys' ensemble.
Zemgales Ziņas · 6 Oct, 05:20
Liepāja public transport records highest-ever monthly ridership in September
In September, Liepāja's public transport logged 698,856 trips – the highest monthly figure since the electronic payment system launched in 2024. The rise is linked to the new school year and growing popularity of subscription tickets.
irLiepāja · 6 Oct, 04:29
Journalists: Kulbergs' election win fueled by voter dissatisfaction with Siliņa
On the show "Spried ar Delfi," journalists discussed why Andris Kulbergs' "Apvienotais saraksts" won a decisive victory in the 15th Saeima election, securing 41 seats. One explanation offered was that Kulbergs' popularity was partly built on dissatisfaction with former Prime Minister Evika Siliņa.
Delfi · 6 Oct, 04:25
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Quiz tests knowledge of 15th Saeima election's most "rejected" candidates
After the vote count for the 15th Saeima elections was completed, it became clear which candidates received the highest number of negative "against" marks from voters. A new online quiz now lets people test their knowledge of these results.
Apollo.lv · 6 Oct, 04:23
Number of Illegal Migrants Surges at Tallinn Detention Center
The flow of illegal migrants crossing from Belarus through Latvia into Estonia has increased sharply in recent days, nearly filling Tallinn's detention center. Most of those detained who arrived via Latvia are set to be sent back there.
ERR (rus) · 6 Oct, 03:29
Police search for missing 19-year-old Deniss, possibly in Liepāja
Latvian State Police are searching for 19-year-old Deniss Kondratcevs, whom relatives have been unable to reach since September 23. He may currently be in Liepāja.
Jauns.lv · 6 Oct, 03:28
Rāzna National Park to host educational mushroom walk in October
On October 10, Rāzna National Park will hold a free educational event about the world of mushrooms, led by mycologist Ēriks Zacs. Advance registration is required to attend.
Jauns.lv · 6 Oct, 02:29
Rikveilis: no real conditions yet for stationing nuclear weapons in Latvia
Defence Ministry State Secretary Airis Rikveilis said on TV24 that there are currently no realistic grounds for placing nuclear weapons in Latvia, describing the president's related statement as largely symbolic. He explained why the process is far more complex than it might seem.
Latvijas Avīze · 6 Oct, 00:21
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Election night emotion: Andris Kulbergs' kiss with his partner becomes a standout photo moment
On the night of the 15th Saeima elections, politician Andris Kulbergs shared a spontaneous kiss with his partner in front of cameras, drawing wide attention. The moment has become one of the most memorable images of the election night.
TVNET · 6 Oct, 00:21
Russians with EU residence permits up 61% in Spain since 2021, while numbers drop in Latvia, Estonia and Czechia
Eurostat data show the overall number of Russian citizens holding EU residence permits grew 14% between 2021 and 2025, even as Latvia, Estonia and Czechia saw sharp declines.
Meduza · 6 Oct, 00:20
Tavars: broader coalition needed to pass serious, unpopular decisions
Edgars Tavars, a politician from the United List, which won Latvia's 15th Saeima election, said on Latvian Television's "Šodienas jautājums" that a broader governing coalition would be better suited to pushing through important but unpopular decisions.
LSM (rus) · 5 Oct, 22:28
After Saeima Elections: Rinkēvičs to Nominate Kulbergs for Prime Minister
Following the 15th Saeima elections, President Edgars Rinkēvičs plans to nominate Andris Kulbergs to form a new government, with a three-party coalition expected to hold a stable majority.
Delfi · 5 Oct, 22:25
Around 14,000 left without power in Ukraine's Poltava region after emergency
An emergency incident in Ukraine's Poltava region has left approximately 14,000 people without electricity. The outage affects settlements in the Zinkiv and Opishnia territorial communities.
Ukrainska Pravda · 5 Oct, 22:23