Report
Latvia Weekly: How Outrage Is Fueling a Populist Surge
The previously fringe Union of New Latvians party is now polling to pass the 5% threshold for Riga’s city council. Its leaders Glorija Grevcova and Rūdolfs Brēmanis are generating social media engagement through content which can be described as “outrage porn.” They are stirring up outrage in their audience using charged and even fake topics to provoke strong emotional reactions. Guess the populist political party which gained the most engagements for its posts on Facebook, TikTok and Telegram? It was not Roslikovs, the leader of Stability! party. It was not Ainārs Šlesers, Trump-like leader of Latvia First party. It was Glorija Grevcova and Rūdolfs Brēmanis from the Union New Latvians.
Weekly Reports
Estonia Weekly: Narva’s Dubious Coalition & Energy Policy Criticized
Some concerns are expressed about the new political coalition in Narva, as critics fear it will promote pro-Russian views and undermine Estonian democratic values. Meanwhile, the Estonian government plans to phase out oil shale electricity production by 2035, facing criticism that it is relying on strict decisions from Brussels and causing job losses.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Discredits Lithuanian Elections Amid Controversial Coalition Formation
Former President Dalia Grybauskaitė faced backlash for warning against a coalition with the controversial “Nemuno aušra” party, led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who is accused of antisemitism. Despite her concerns, the Social Democrats formed the coalition, which Kremlin-aligned outlets used as an opportunity to attack Grybauskaitė’s credibility, accusing her of Kremlin sympathies and discrediting her past political affiliations.
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Latvia Weekly: Misleading Narratives Following Trump’s Victory
Kremlin-aligned disinformation channels and Latvian conspiracy theorists both exploited Trump’s US election victory to spread misleading narratives. The pro-Kremlin channels suggested Trump as president would abandon Latvia’s defense, and made false claims about him stopping liberal policies. Latvian conspiracy theorists portrayed Trump as defeating “globalists” and hoped his win would aid their own anti-globalist fight in Latvia. They also undermined trust in independent media and experts for failing to predict Trump’s victory.
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Estonia Weekly: Trump’s Election Inspires Kremlin Supporters
Some pro-Kremlin narratives emerged in the Estonian information space in response to the recent US presidential elections, with some voices advocating the normalization of US-Russian relations. Constitutional amendments proposed by the Estonian government could deprive Russian and Belarusian citizens of the right to vote, leading to accusations of failed integration and potential radicalization.
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Lithuania Weekly: Social Democrat Leader Rejecting Prime Minister Post
Media in Lithuania spotlighted the Social Democratic Party’s (LSDP) parliamentary victory, marking a political shift amid rising discontent with the ruling Homeland Union. Kremlin-aligned media used this result to amplify narratives of instability and voter disillusionment, questioning Lithuania’s resilience under economic hardship and its alignment with Western policies.
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Latvia Weekly: Economic Decisions Under Fire
Recent narratives in Latvian media depict the economy as faltering, with critiques of major projects like Rail Baltica, described as a “bottomless pit” draining resources. Claims also suggest that disconnecting from the Russia-Belarus BRELL power grid in favor of European synchronization will drive up electricity costs.
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Estonia Weekly: Debate Heats Up Over Voting Rights and the Russian Church
This week two major stories developed in the Estonian information space, where they provoked negative discussions and reactions from some Russian speakers. In this context, the issue of voting rights and the future status of the Russian Orthodox Church in Estonia will remain socio-politically resonant issues that can potentially be used in disinformation campaigns and the promotion of hostile narratives.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Portrays Shift Toward a Multipolar World
Kremlin-backed media portrayed the BRICS group as an emerging global force poised to challenge the current world order. These outlets emphasized the alleged decline of U.S. dominance, pointing to the summit as evidence of a growing multipolar world led by powers like China and Russia.
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Latvia Weekly: Farmers Voice Concerns Over EU Regulations
Latvian farmers are raising concerns about the European Union’s agricultural policies, which they argue have burdened the industry with excessive bureaucracy. Critics say that these regulations hinder productivity and place additional strain on an already challenging sector.
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