Address by Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima,
at the Saeima ceremonial sitting of 4 May 2019
in honour of the 29th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of
the Republic of Latvia
Honourable Prime Minister,
Honourable Members of the Saeima,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellences,
Dear fellow compatriots,
The 4th of May is the celebration of the revival of our nation. It represents our will to have our own state.
The historic vote of 4 May 1990 reinstated the independence of Latvia, and on that day, fifty years of occupation came to an end.
Our desire to have our own state was alive, and it prevailed.
Today, we have gathered here in the Saeima just as the Members of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia did 29 years ago. Perhaps these walls still hold memories of the enormous enthusiasm, excitement and joy that radiated from this hall and outside the walls of the Saeima, as well as throughout Latvia and in Latvian communities around the world.
While this hall has witnessed many votes that were crucial for our nation, the adoption of the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence was the most significant event in the modern history of Latvia.
Sometimes we view these key events in the history of our nation and state as incredibly good luck or as happy coincidences. However, with the benefit of hindsight it becomes clear that our actions were thought out and we moved in the desired direction in a very pragmatic way.
None of it can be put down to mere coincidence. All our key decisions have been based on clear and firm foundations.
These foundations gave us strength 29 years ago, and they still inspire us.
The State of Latvia is built on a rock. And the rock is our people. The state draws its strength from the key values of our nation. Our sense of nationhood, the spiritual heritage of our ancestors and the firm will to have our own state are the sources of our strength.
Our success is based on the fact that we are a hard-working and ambitious people.
Today, we realise that the founding of our state 100 years ago and the restoration of independence 29 years ago was the result of relentless joint efforts by numerous patriots of this country. Latvia was built by poets and writers who inspired; by teachers and public figures who taught and explained; and by lawyers who drafted documents. And above all — by our people who embodied and acted on the desire for its own state.
On this beautiful festive day, I wish to thank everyone who holds the State of Latvia dear.
Thank you to all the Members of the Supreme Council who voted in favour of restoring independence 29 years ago. To everyone who worked hard, who united our people, organised and planned for this day. To the nation that inspired the Members of the Supreme Council and gave them strength.
Joining the European Union 15 years ago and becoming a member of the NATO was also a long-term task involving thousands of our dedicated fellow compatriots. Politicians, diplomats, civil servants, people of Latvia and patriots of our dear nation all over the world — thank you.
By restoring independence, we made our geopolitical choice. We have not and will not change it.
Thank you to the Members of the Saeima who voted in favour of the Preamble to the Constitution five years ago introducing a number of immutable clauses. These protect the foundations of our state and our democracy even better. The adoption of the thoroughly drafted Preamble was an important step in strengthening the lasting statehood of Latvia. It represents another cornerstone of our future.
Dear audience,
Together we decided that 2019 was going to be the Year of Heroes in Latvia. This year, we are honouring heroism and bravery, courage and self-sacrifice, faith in ultimate victory and a higher goal.
We are honouring our Armed Forces, as this year marks the centenary of the foundation of the Latvian Army. We are taking a closer look at the events of the War of Independence and realising what altruism and vision it must have taken to win that struggle.
Latvians are like bees, as sculptor Kristaps Gulbis described our soldiers. Bees do not attack, but if provoked they will defend themselves and fight, and they are ready to die for their home, their fellow bees and their freedom. This is how the united Latvian Army was born 100 years ago.
Since the restoration of independence, we have systematically strengthened our security. On 23 August 1991, the Law on the National Guard was one of the first laws adopted in the restored Republic of Latvia. Today, the National Guard is the largest unit of the National Armed Forces and it has a high state of preparedness. Our national guardsmen take part in international missions.
Our modern National Armed Forces are ready to counter any threat. The Latvian Army contributes to strengthening international security together with our allies from other NATO member states.
The spirit of heroism is very much alive among our soldiers. "We will defend our nation whatever it takes," is how our soldiers pledge their allegiance to Latvia. And this is a great strength.
In recent years, we, the lawmakers, have made the necessary amendments to the laws regulating the Armed Forces so that they are able to defend the nation against military aggression immediately, without the need for approval from certain officials. We have improved the legal framework so that in the event of a war or invasion everyone can help in defending the state, increasing the flexibility for people to respond in such situations.
However, heroism also exists in peacetime. Heroism inspires. It happens in decisive moments when individuals step outside the ordinary, beyond the boundaries of their personal life. Heroism begins with self-sacrifice.
Allow me to highlight the role of dissidents Gunārs Astra and Lidija Doroņina-Lasmane. They represent two distinguished peaks of dignity, honesty and heroism that we should aspire to reach. Such peaks also give us a clearer view of the horizon.
I thank everyone who in spite of many difficulties remained loyal to the idea of independence throughout the Soviet occupation, who bravely maintained their convictions and sacrificed themselves.
Today we look up to Latvian heroes of the new centenary. We collect stories about young people, who inspire and fascinate, who work selflessly and purposefully to make Latvia a better place.
Honourable Members of the Saeima,
We do have some high peaks, but how can we describe our horizon? What would we see if we took a bird’s-eye view of our country today? I have to admit that we would see both palaces and shacks. In this picture, there are too many of both.
What I mean is the inequality in our society, which is a great concern for our people.
There is too much inequality in our country, and due to its small size it could be administered much better so that everyone could be happy.
Equality of opportunity is one of the key principles of a democratic and socially responsible state governed by the rule of law. It applies to social security, healthcare, education and all the other societal benefits.
Our work must be dedicated to reducing poverty risks, and every institution should contribute to achieving this goal. I believe we can do it.
Fellow Latvians should not suffer just because they lived during the Soviet period or worked in a job that did not earn a larger pension. Large families should not live worse lives just because they wanted more children. Professionals who have chosen their trade by following their hearts and whose work benefits all of society should not feel underestimated due to disproportionately low salaries. People with special needs should have greater social security and better opportunities to fully integrate into society.
Currently, our ultimate political goal should be making Latvia a much more prosperous country. We should step up our efforts to increase the well-being of the people, provide them with equal opportunities and ensure fair treatment.
Whatever we do, be it administrative-territorial reform, improvement of the healthcare sector, or planning economic development for the decades ahead, we must strive to make entire Latvia a more prosperous and fairer place. We can do it.
Dear colleagues,
According to opinion polls, people in Latvia believe that family, good health and love are the main sources of happiness. Family, health and love make people happy.
Money is not seen as the main source of happiness. However, the other side of the coin is that lack of money is what worries people the most. No, people do not dream of living in posh palaces. They simply do not want to live in shacks.
Having already managed to achieve ambitious national objectives, we must be able to overcome the current big issue — inequality. Inequality hinders faster development of our country. It means that fewer of our fellow Latvians are returning home from economic emigration. It weakens the sense of belonging to one's country. It prevents people from feeling happy.
And this diminishes our strength and crushes our rock.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Over these years, as a nation we have grown and become much more mature than we were 29 or 20 years ago. Developing at nearly unbelievable speed, we have grown politically, economically and legally.
We have now reached a new turning point — a moment when all of Europe stands at a crossroads. Europe is changing, and soon it will be a different place.
There are several reasons why this is happening. The global paradigm is shifting. The technology industries have fundamentally transformed the flow of information, communication channels, labour markets, indeed our entire lives and perceptions.
Opportunities have changed, as have expectations. At the same time, politics has become more complex, boring and alienating to many people.
The administration of the European Union has become cumbersome and slow. Citizens of EU member states feel over-regulated in many areas.
At times, it seems that Brussels has turned into a kind of citadel or fortress, which is difficult to access and lacks flexibility. In contrast, Brussels should be a bustling centre connected to us via uninterrupted live links.
Many people are worried about the upcoming European Parliament elections on 25 May, because they know that the composition of the Parliament will be very different, just as the 13th Saeima is different from the previous legislatures. Likewise, the new parliaments in Estonia, Finland and other European nations have changed after their last elections.
But let us not be too hasty in predicting the end of Europe. According to polls, in recent years, public support for a united Europe has been at an all-time high and support for the single currency has also been very strong.
Europe is the cradle of democracy, and it was Europe that gave the world the notions of humanism, equality and solidarity. Europe respects the cultures and traditions of its nations; it respects their national identities.
Over many centuries, Europe has preserved rationality and overcome many challenges. This is why populism, in its negative sense, has no future in Europe.
The past shows that the sense of community and the foundations of European identity are stronger than the ever-turning wheel of time.
Europe is a source of Latvia’s strengths as well. We did not lose our European identity over the 50 years of occupation. The same is true for Estonia and Lithuania. And we are not going to lose it now, either.
A European renaissance will happen. The European spirit is strong and vital. This is the attitude we should adopt going into the European Parliament elections in three weeks.
Let us vote for candidates who can preserve and strengthen Europe, for leaders who hold Europe in high regard. This is our civilisation, and this is our opportunity to strengthen our national sovereignty while reinforcing our European sense of togetherness.
Dear audience,
When thinking about Latvia, we are fortunate and privileged to have strong foundations. At the same time, we have to keep on strengthening and widening those very foundations.
We must acknowledge our capacity to work purposefully and tirelessly.
Over the next four years, the Saeima and the Government must address a number of important issues. This will determine whether we are capable of strengthening the foundations of our state. This will determine the well-being of our citizens, the international reputation of the state and the future of our nation.
Today, our key tasks are to reduce inequality, strengthen national security, combat corruption, reform the financial system and provide support to families with children.
I note with satisfaction that, even if its formation was long and difficult, the Government has immediately started tackling one of current strategic objectives — to reform the financial system.
It is encouraging to see the Government's commitment not only to implementing the recommendations of international organisations for combating financial crime in Latvia, but also to taking the process a step further and building a financial system ranked among the best in Europe. It is of crucial importance and will restore confidence in our financial sector.
Another essential aspect is that we are working hard to develop a comprehensive national defence system. We are honouring the pledge of NATO member states to spend 2 % of GDP on defence; moreover, we want to increase this share.
Strong transatlantic cooperation is paramount to the security of Latvia. By working with the United States of America and Canada, we can feel safe. Together with Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, we have written a new page in the history of NATO by hosting NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in our countries. NATO’s Battle Group consisting of soldiers from nine countries is contributing to the defence of our country. I am grateful to our allies.
Other tasks that require special attention include combating corruption and reducing corruption risks.
Late last year, after a number of searches and arrests took place, people called it an Advent calendar from the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), as it was regularly uncovering new crimes. We are witnessing that a major municipal company, one of the largest employers in Latvia, has now come to symbolise a cornucopia of potentially corrupt transactions and lawlessness.
I hope not only that KNAB and other law enforcement authorities continue to fight corruption actively, but also that the day will come when the public has confidence in the purposefulness of the battle against corruption. Eventually, selfishness, greed and fraud will be punished. Through the increasingly active work of the KNAB and other relevant institutions, this hope is growing stronger.
One of the most important promises made by us, the politicians, regarding the future of our nation is to make Latvia the most family-friendly country. It is with good reason that the family is one of the key sources of our happiness.
Large, strong families are one of the cornerstones of our nation. Therefore, the ultimate goal of our policy is helping people in Latvia to be happy living here, to feel safe in their own country, making them proud of their country so that, together with their children, they aspire to be a part of Latvia’s future.
I wish the Government and the Saeima success in accomplishing all the important tasks we have set for ourselves.
Dear compatriots,
The past and the present show that the strength of our nation transcends us as individuals. Our will to have our own state is stronger than foreign powers and invaders.
The State of Latvia was born and reborn even in the most difficult conditions. However, we have always drawn strength from our love for Latvia, our language, and the heritage of our ancestors.
This is a guarantee for our future. Our determination and diligence will help us to achieve it. Our state is built on a rock, and we are the rock.
I congratulate you all on the Day of the Restoration of Independence of Latvia!
May Latvia live and prosper forever!
God bless Latvia!