Today, the freedom of Latvia is perceived as something taken for granted; however, it remains a value that must be cherished - both from external threats and from internal division within society, stated the Speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Meirinya, at the ceremonial sitting of parliament dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the proclamation of the Latvian Republic.
She noted that Latvians are a strong and warm-hearted people. "Latvians do not speak loudly about this, but within them lives an unwavering love for their land. And when the time comes to raise the flag together, each with their own story and experience becomes part of a unified whole," said Meirinya.
The Speaker of the Saeima emphasized that freedom is not just a word, but a genuine value that must be cherished, developed, and passed on to future generations. According to her, freedom has always been the central pillar of the existence of the Latvian people. "To be free on our land, in our thoughts and beliefs. To be masters of our land and to act for ourselves. The awareness of freedom is a value that has been rooted in us from generation to generation," said the speaker, adding that today, when there is tension in the world and in Latvian society, it is important to talk about both what unites and what divides.
Meirinya reminded that 35 years of independence have been a time of continuous growth and development for the people of Latvia. "We lived as if intoxicated by freedom and democracy, but today we have awakened on the edge of a cliff, because it turned out that freedom is not only its awareness, but also courage and actions that require a firm position and certain efforts," said the Speaker of the Saeima.
According to Meirinya, the war in Ukraine reminds us that the existing challenges are much larger than internal disagreements. The people of Ukraine, with their courage and selflessness, show that freedom is both precious and fragile. "This war is a troubling signal that all our efforts must be directed towards strengthening security - external, internal, and within each of us," emphasized the speaker.
She reminded that the Latvian state was founded thanks to the common conviction of various political forces and representatives of different ideologies that Latvians need their own free state, that they can live under one flag and speak one language.
This, according to the speaker, proves that different opinions can coexist and do not necessarily have to compete, so it is time to become a mature democracy where people know how to respectfully debate and understand their responsibility for the future of the state.
Meirinya emphasized that this year marks the 90th anniversary of the Freedom Monument. "This is an important milestone in history and a reminder to us - Latvia was, is, and will be, through times and centuries," the head of parliament emphasized.
