The Latgale branch of the National Alliance (NA) considers it necessary to propose the transfer of strategically important cultural institutions to state management.
Cultural institutions that are centers of Latvian and Latgalian culture should be under state control — this would reduce the risks associated with excessive political influence of local governments in the cultural sphere, notes the party.
Saeima deputy, chairman of the Saeima subcommittee for Latgale Edmunds Teirumnieks (NA) states that currently, under the guise of consolidation and increased efficiency, political influence over the management of cultural institutions and the services they offer is intensifying in several of the largest municipalities in Latgale, including Daugavpils and Rēzekne.
"The views of the leadership of these local governments often diverge from the goals of state cultural policy, which creates the risk that due to financial pressure, cultural institutions may become overly focused on commercial events, the content of which is not always loyal to Latvia, which is especially important in the current complex geopolitical situation," emphasizes Teirumnieks.
The NA branch in Latgale emphasizes that these issues must be considered in the context of national identity, security, and state cultural policy, taking into account the specifics of Latvia's eastern border and geopolitical events.
The political force notes that a similar opinion regarding the Latgalian Embassy "Gors" was previously expressed by President Edgars Rinkēvičs, indicating that it is not only a concert hall of regional significance but also a place where the preservation and development of Latvian and Latgalian identity is ensured, therefore the institution should be transferred to state management.
According to reports, the Ministry of Culture (MC) must prepare an informational report on the results of negotiations with the municipality of Rēzekne and the evaluated possible solutions regarding the "Concert Hall of Eastern Latvia" or "Gors" by the end of January, said Minister of Culture Agnese Laizāne to the LETA agency.
She indicated that currently the MC will propose several scenarios for possible cooperation to the municipality of Rēzekne and then see how the municipality responds to the proposal.
"This could involve joint responsibility, joint participation in a capital company, or other scenarios," said Laizāne, noting that the Ministry of Culture, as well as the coalition, is ready to continue these negotiations.
Mayor of Rēzekne Aleksandrs Bartashevich believes that it would be appropriate to transfer the facility to state ownership. "The city of Rēzekne is ready to pay off the loans," said the mayor, not specifying what the remaining payment amount is, but mentioning that it could be between three to four million euros.
"Our goal is not to transfer the facility to the state, but this is our proposal if they believe that we, as a municipality, cannot ensure proper maintenance or management," said Bartashevich.
On December 30, the municipality also decided to dismiss the head of "Gors" Diana Zirnina. The municipality claims that in the current financial conditions, both the municipality and the enterprise itself need a management approach with a more pronounced focus on financial control, budget planning, risk management, and decision-making based on business analytics, "thereby ensuring the long-term existence of 'Gors', high artistic quality of events, and accessibility of cultural services for residents and guests of Rēzekne."
