It is quite possible that as early as tomorrow afternoon, the budget commission of the Saeima will make a decision on issuing 30 million to the national airline.
At this moment, a meeting is concluding between the Saeima deputies from the Union of Greens and Farmers and the Minister of Transport, Aitis Švinka ('Progressives'). The 'Green Farmers' have warned that they will make a decision on whether to support the issuance of a short-term loan to airBaltic only after communicating with A. Švinka and receiving comprehensive information about the situation at the national airline. It is expected that later today, in the evening, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa will also visit the 'Green Farmers' with the same goal - to convince them to vote for the loan issuance. At the moment, Siliņa is conducting a closed meeting of the crisis council, where, as can be understood, issues regarding the state's material reserves are being discussed.
Rumors from the corridors of power suggest that the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport to 'convince' the 'Green Farmers' may be successful. In this case, as early as tomorrow afternoon (approximately at 14:00), the budget commission of the Saeima may hold a meeting regarding airBaltic, and by a majority vote, a decision may be made to grant airBaltic the loan after all. The deputies of the Union of Greens and Farmers will also vote in favor. To make it 'easier' for the 'Green Farmers' to decide to support the loan issuance today, their government partners also made a concession towards the Minister of Economics from the Union of Greens and Farmers - a bill on the introduction of a solidarity payment was supported. As previously reported, this involves taking excess profits from fuel traders - that is, revenues from markups that exceed 3 percent.
