Riga, Oct 16 (LETA) - Parliament lawmakers today handed over the draft state budget for the next year and a package of accompanying draft laws to the Saeima committees for review.

The package of draft laws accompanying the 2026 state budget includes almost 50 bills, including changes to certain taxes and reforms to the retirement pension system.

Votes on the bills showed that the ruling coalition managed to secure a 51-vote majority in the parliament today, with the New Unity, Progressives and the Union of Greens and Farmers factions attracting also votes of pro-government independent MPs Skaidrite Abrama, Olegs Burovs and Igors Rajevs. Janis Dinevics, who has just been elected as a Member of the Saeima on the Greens/Farmers list, also voted in favor of referring the bills to committees.

In the vote directly on the draft budget law for the next year, the 51 members of the ruling coalition were joined by the independent MP Andrejs Celapiters, once elected from the New Unity list, securing 52 votes.

Meanwhile, the opposition had managed to gather up to around 40 votes for this session of the Saeima, which were not unanimous in all votes.

Earlier, some sittings of the Saeima were suspended because the ruling coalition in the Saeima was unable to secure a quorum. The Saeima is made up of 100 representatives. According to the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima, parliamentary sittings can take place only if at least half of the members of the Saeima are present.

Next year's consolidated state budget is expected to have EUR 16.064 billion in revenue and EUR 17.945 billion in expenditure.

Earlier, Edmunds Jurevics, head of the New Unity faction in the Saeima, told LETA that the first reading of next year's budget is expected to start on November 5, while the final reading could be held on December 3, with work on it concluding on December 5.

Before the bills were referred to committees, MPs could speak for and against. This was used by some opposition MPs to criticized the government of Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity), saying that the promised savings have not been found, but only the public debt has been increased, which will affect the welfare of citizens in the future.

Compared to the 2025 budget, in 2026 the increase in state budget revenue exceeds the increase in expenditure. Budget revenue is projected to increase by EUR 944.6 million, while expenditure is projected to increase by EUR 804.3 million.

The basic budget is planned to raise EUR 10.9 billion in revenue, while expenditure is planned at EUR 13.2 billion. The special budget, on the other hand, is planned to raise EUR 5.5 billion in revenue, with expenditure projected at EUR 5.1 billion.

Latvia's gross domestic product (GDP) next year is forecast at EUR 43.953 billion, so the budget deficit will be 3.3 percent of GDP and public debt will not exceed 55 percent of GDP.

General government spending will fall to 47 percent of GDP next year, down from 47.5 percent this year. At the same time, defense spending will increase whereas total spending will decrease.

Overall, public spending is cut by EUR 171 million next year. EUR 693.5 million have been earmarked for prioritized needs, including EUR 448.3 million for defense and security.

The Finance Ministry notes that the 2026 state budget and the medium-term budgetary framework for 2026-2028 have been prepared in line with European Union (EU) and national fiscal rules.

Next year's budget includes additional investment in national security, support for families with children and quality education. The budget also provides for more than EUR 1 billion in EU funds, as well as a EUR 151.4 million increase in local government revenues, strengthening the resilience of the state and society, the Finance Ministry notes.