Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on the travel expenses and class of travel for government officials:
Key Points:
Krišjānis Kariņš’s Private Flight: The text highlights a single private flight taken by Krišjānis Kariņš costing 34,000 euros. It’s implied that all other foreign visits combined cost less than this single flight.
Evika Siliņš’s travel:
Frequency: Evika Siliņš has undertaken 8 foreign missions this year.
Class of Travel: She flew business class on 7 out of these 8 trips.
Accompanying Staff: No other accompanying staff (sign interpreter, guard) flew business class within the three-month period.
Specific Trips and Costs:
Brussels (Informal European Council): A round trip cost 1,152 euros. The flight duration was about 1.5 hours.
Dubai (World Government Summit):
Duration: 4 days.
Hotel: Not paid for.
Airline Tickets (Prime Minister): 3,654.39 euros.
Airline Tickets (Head of Prime Minister’s office): 2,793.55 euros.
Total for Dubai flights: Nearly 10,000 euros.
Other Business Trips: Siliņš also traveled business class to Brussels, Munich, Berlin, and Paris.
Justification for Business Class:
The Director of the State Chancellery, Raivis Kronbergs, cited Cabinet Regulation No. 969.
this regulation allows for reimbursement of business class services for members of the Cabinet and accompanying persons when implementing national security, foreign policy, or domestic policy objectives.
It also allows for reimbursement of special air vehicle services in exceptional cases.
The text notes that while the regulation highlights these categories and assumes business class use, it doesn’t explicitly state that prime ministers must fly business class.
Daily Allowances:
Daily allowances are the same for everyone, regardless of position.
Dubai Example: 200 euros for 4 days (50 euros/day) for both the Prime Minister and her office manager, plus three consultants. The Prime Minister’s Adviser received 250 euros for a 5-day stay.
Comparison of Daily Rates:
UAE: 50 euros/day.
Belgium & France: 60 euros/day.
UK: 65 euros/day.
Most Expensive Staff Costs (Munich): A four-day visit for the Prime Minister cost 858 euros, and for a six-person accompanying staff, it was 718 euros.
Paris (Good Will Coalition Leaders):
Duration: One day with an overnight stay.
Hotel Cost (per commander): 392.54 euros.
* Hotel Cost (Prime Minister’s overnight stay): 611.86 euros.
In essence, the article contrasts the meaningful cost of a private flight by a former Prime Minister with the more regular business class travel of the current Prime Minister, Evika Siliņš.It also details the costs of her trips and the regulatory basis for business class travel, while noting that daily allowances are standardized.
