During his meeting with representatives of parties forming the government, Latvia’s President Egils Levits outlined, among other things, the need to enhance open Latvianness, historic memory and democratic education, as reported by the State President’s Chancellery.
On Monday, the 9th of January, the President met at Riga Castle with representatives of New Unity, Combined List and National Alliance. Officials discussed each other’s priorities in legislation. The State President’s Chancellery reports that Levits turned politicians’ attention towards the topic of domestic and foreign security, as well as quality legislative process.
The president welcomed the start of the new Saeima: «A great deal of what is common has been accomplished. We are at the start of our work, and I hope the coalition will continue working as successfully this year and the next four years.»
In his speech, Levits welcomed the option for horizontal cooperation to help resolve different priority matters, but he also added it is important to implement this in practice. According to him, this approach can be used to appoint vice-ministers in such important state sectors like digitisation, demography, family and child rights, higher education, science and innovations, as well as information space.
«Currently we have very weak or non-existent policy in these areas,» said the president.
«Latvia as a modern country needs a consolidated policy and responsible officials in these areas,» stressed Levits. Aside from security, officials also discussed economic transformation and social support.
Officials also stressed the need to develop a policy for clever use of funding available from the European Green Course in Latvia’s best interests. «The Green Course should be used in a way that would enhance Latvia’s technological development and education quality, because it is easier and faster for a small country to transform. We have to use our advantages consciously and purposefully,» Levits told legislators.
In order to accomplish priorities listed by the president – open Latvianness, historic memory and democratic education – it is necessary to create scholarship programmes for emerging teachers in Latvian language, European official languages, and STEM (education, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. This could help resolve the problem of shortage of teachers in these subjects.
He also believes that it is necessary to promote the idea of a National Council to ensure high quality legislative process in Latvia. The president also said he plans to suggest a proposal for amendments to the Law on Financing of Political Organisations.
«With these amendments we would put more of an emphasis on letting parties develop a competent policy. The general funding would remain unchanged, but part of this funding will need to be used to promote capacity,» explained the president.
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