We have a unique opportunity to shape the second century of Latvia together. I am sure that the Centenary of Latvia enabled everybody to get to know our Latvia better and to grow more prominent in our goals and responsibilities. We all have the opportunity to engage and continue forging the ideal Latvia we are dreaming about. It matters to me, and I will not stay aside - it should become our entire belief in the coming years and decades. We must be ready to engage and build a better Latvia through our contribution in all regions of Latvia and beyond.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am grateful for the opportunity given to me to serve Latvia as President of Latvia. For all these four years, I have worked for the benefit of Latvia’s people in my good conscience. I am convinced that we have managed to do a lot to make Latvia stronger and more secure in those years.
Strengthening the security of Latvia has been a permanent priority during my presidency. I had already committed myself to this priority as a Minister of Defence, and I continued my work as the President of Latvia. Today I can say that we live in Latvia, which is safer than ever.
Increasing the defence spending to 2% of Gross Domestic Product since 2018 allows us to improve our defensibility and to demonstrate our commitment to the other NATO Member States. The NATO Summit in Warsaw decided to secure NATO’s enhanced forward presence in the Baltic States and Poland in 2016. It gives us confidence that we can rely on our allied support.
I proposed amendments to the National Security Law to improve the country’s response capacity to potential threats. With those amendments, we have stipulated explicitly that the year 1940 will never repeat. We are ready to respond to threats and defend our country and independence. No order or permission to protect your country is required. Neither the President of Latvia, the Saeima, nor anyone else can prohibit resisting and fighting for Latvia.
I extend my gratitude to everyone who has been involved and worked actively with me to strengthen Latvia’s security during those years. Only together, we were able to execute the plan and achieve the goals set. However, the concept of security has developed rapidly in those years. National security does not mean hard defence and participation in international alliances. We need to be ready for the new challenges.
In the years to come, security must also be a priority for our country, while taking in a broader picture by strengthening human security, improving public resilience to hybrid threats and focusing on national internal security. To increase faith in our country, we must create confidence that the state takes care of everyone of us by providing state support from early childhood to old age, providing assistance in accidents, protecting our families, homes, cities, and borders from a variety of fears. I expect the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers to continue strengthening our security.
Dear Members of the Saeima,
A robust democratic state and belonging to a united Europe require a change of decision-making culture and a readiness to demonstrate our values by deeds. Justice and the rule of law are a matter of the identity of our country. Latvia is a legal state, and justice is the foundation of Latvia’s existence.
We have neglected our judicial system for too long, and the changes have come to a halt in this domain. Every resident of Latvia expects efficient and fast court protection and a fair court judgment. The state is obliged to provide it.
Only now, we have experienced the beginning of change, and the judicial system has slowly begun to change. We can achieve excellent work of the judiciary and increased trust in the courts. Judges and judicial staff who are not afraid to speak publicly about the problems in the system and propose the necessary improvements reinforce my confidence.
A legal state does not mean that someone can be above the law or set their own standards that do not apply to others. The people’s representatives and public officials are expected to act legally and to strengthen our country by their actions the most rather than undermining trust in it. The society expects a lot from the Saeima in the area of justice in particular, and you have every opportunity to fulfil the promises made to the public.
The Saeima must draft laws according to the set procedure and quality. The public is entitled to know what consultations have taken place on the draft law and which interest groups have defended the need for some law or, on the contrary, have delayed the adoption of some law. The Constitutional Court of Latvia has already recognised several laws as not adopted in due process. That is the serious signal of the fact that you cannot work in the old manner as before. The legislator needs to change with the times and by the requirements of good lawmaking. The Saeima should find time to continue working on amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima aimed at improving the legislative process.
Legislative work must be well thought out and balanced. Any law is not an accidental decision or whim of the legislator. Every law affects the lives of Latvia’s people and businesses. Therefore, one must do his or her best to make the law efficient and feasible. Accidental and hasty laws undermine the confidence in the legislator the most that cause misunderstanding and chaos in their application. Nothing undermines the power of the law more than the awareness that it can be amended quickly and corrected hastily.
The laws cannot just remain on paper. Deficiencies in their execution and practical implementation at both government and local government level weaken our country. The Parliament must be able to set the agenda and enforce its decisions. One must strengthen parliamentary control of the executive power in Latvia.
Dear Audience,
A mature state and society can cope with the pain of the past and be strong in building a better future. We have opened the Cheka files, and the conversation about our past continues. It is essential that the evaluation of the past consists of impartial and scientific studies instead of simplified myths and legends. It is crucial not to fear and not to pass the difficult pages of our history, but to be honest with the past and ourselves.
Latvia is a full-fledged member of a united Europe. We are an integral part of Europe. Latvia will continue to exist and prosper safely only if we can secure the principles of the rule of law, democracy, and equality ourselves in our country. Latvia must not rest on its laurels. Good also can be made better, because the people of our country deserve the best.
Nowadays, we face many challenges in internal and external security, economic security, including a decline in economic growth, gaps in education and healthcare. However, one of the biggest challenges that our country faces is reducing imparity. It begins with an understanding that prosperity is not an economic figure but a real human life. One talks about imparity more and more, but one lacks particular actions and efficient laws that would allow us to reduce imparity in our society. Large families and seniors are very subject to imparity. I hope that consistent solutions in this direction will be visible in the nearest future. In particular, while forming the new state budget, one should not forget about the promises made to its constituents by seeking funding for new initiatives, but remembering to shape a balanced state budget at the same time.
Our country must provide a better future for the younger generation. It starts with a safe and healthy childhood in a secure and development-facilitating environment. A well-arranged education system is a solid foundation for both patriotic upbringing and the development of brilliant talents in sports, culture, and crafts. There are still many decisions that must be taken and implemented.
There are matters where we must just put a period. We must stop granting non-citizen status to newborn children. We can grant those children the status of a citizen from their birth. We must provide all children with equal opportunities to acquire education in Latvian and to shape a full-fledged future in Latvia.
The questions about the future of Latvia are related to the change of thinking from the immediate benefit to the long-term perspective. First of all, longer than the appointment period. When thinking about our people, these are ten and twenty year- perspectives. When thinking about the sustainability of Latvia and the world, that would mean even a longer view. Latvia is still one of the greenest countries in the world, but unfortunately, we cannot say that Latvia is greener than ever. Internationally, we have received poor reviews in several areas like air quality, efficient control and reduction of pollution, and thoughtful use of resources to mention only a few of them. The time has come to pay serious attention to long-term environmental policy-making.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Contributing to the benefit of the state and for opportunities of engaging in shaping a better Latvia have no terms of office set. Every individual in a democratic society has many opportunities to be active and to promote change for good. Politicians should set an example in this regard. I am not saying goodbye to you today. I will continue to advocate the values we cherish and to strengthen Latvia henceforth as well.
Thank you for your cooperation! May we continue serving for the benefit of Latvia!
