Kulbergs-led government still has some urgent matters to address before Saeima elections - Rinkevics

RIGA - Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ (United List) government still has some urgent matters left to address in the month leading up to the Saeima elections, President Edgars Rinkevics told reporters Wednesday after meeting with Kulbergs.

The president highlighted three areas where, in his view, progress has been made during the government’s first 100 days under Kulbergs’ leadership.

Rinkevics named security and defense as the first major area. While drones are still flying into Latvia, the public is being informed, allied aircraft are scrambled in such events, and action protocols have been developed for educational institutions, as well as state and local government agencies, Rinkevics noted.

In this context, he also mentioned Operation Vilkatis (Werewolf), which is aimed at reducing illegal migration. Rinkevics commended cooperation between the defense and law enforcement systems in carrying out this operation and noted that the situation regarding illegal migration is stabilizing. At the same time, Rinkevics acknowledged that there is still much work to be done in this regard.

Rinkevics highlighted issues related to Latvia's national carrier airBaltic as another area where certain progress has been made by the Kulbergs-led government. He noted that the Saeima had recently passed the law on financial stabilization measures for airBaltic. While the situation is now stable, he said, it is time to move on to the airline’s development phase.

As a third area, Rinkevics mentioned a reform of the hospital network approved by the current government. Work on its implementation must now continue.

In the remaining month until the Saeima elections, the government must still ensure the secure conduct of the polls, both from the IT perspective and by safeguarding against various types of provocations, Rinkevics said.

In Rinkevics' view, other important issues for the government include dealing with the aftermath of last month's devastating storm, as well as cybersecurity issues.

The president revealed that he had asked Kulbergs that next Tuesday the government finally adopt a decision regarding the regulation for evaluating students, which had been postponed for yet another week at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

Kulbergs was confirmed in office on May 28 of this year, meaning that September 5 will mark 100 days since he took office as prime minister.

Latvia is due to hold the parliamentary election on October 3.