Prime Minister fires advisor amid lobbying accusations
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Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is attempting to form a government while shedding staff following accusations that an advisor lobbied for 'golden visas' residency permits. The swift dismissal without concrete evidence has prompted some critics to question the leader's character. Simultaneously, a separate scandal involving the citizenship of Divja Višvanata, granted by parliament in a single session, has triggered legal investigations within the Academy of Sciences.
The head of the Financial Intelligence Service, Toms Platacis, has announced his departure. He leaves claiming that the country is now an international model for combating money laundering, representing a successful overhaul of the nation's financial oversight systems.
The mood in the capital is unlikely to be improved by Rīgas siltums, which will raise heating tariffs by nearly 20% on December 1. Civil society groups are also tracking the planned liquidation of the Society Integration Foundation, a move they suggest could allow for greater political influence over NGOs and the media.