President of Latvia Egils Levits visited Saldus on 27 September during a regional working visit. Agenda included a meeting with local government leaders with whom Egils Levits discussed how regional reform has changed the way the region is run, energy and heating price compensation measures for local residents, regional school network policy and other priorities.
According to Māris Zusts, Chair of Saldus Regional Council, local population and administration has completed transition to post-reform model. Human resource restructuring following the amalgamation of Saldus and Brocēni regions has allowed to reach new growth potential and better access to higher quality services in the region.
President Levits acknowledged the success of school network reform implemented by the region, which has resulted in a better pay for teachers.
Ways to support more efficient cooperation between local governments and ministries was another issue discussed by Egils Levits and administration of Saldus region.
President encouraged Saldus region to go ahead with establishment of local community councils, an initiative supported by Egils Levits to ensure democratic representation of local communities on parish and town councils.
‘Saldus are doing great. Major changes for the better have been made. You are modern, well-managed and development-oriented region’, said Egils Levits after the meeting as he presented the Presidential plaquette to administration of Saldus region.
Agenda of President Levits’ working visit to Saldus also included a meeting with representatives of ‘Schwenk Latvija’ and ‘Bee Bite’, and the fourth youth debate ‘One of 1.8 million: does my vote count? Participation: choice, right or duty?’, a continuation of election participation debate series ‘‘#Satversme100: future values’.
