On the 36th anniversary of the restoration of Latvia's independence, NRA talks with Edmunds Krastiņš, a former deputy of the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR, who on May 4, 1990, was one of the 138 deputies who voted for the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence.
Later, he became the Minister of State Property in the government of Valdis Birkavs and the Minister of Finance in the third government of Andris Šķēle.
— You were one of those who voted for the restoration of Latvia's independence on May 4, 1990. What are your feelings now, looking at what is happening? Some say that everything is completely falling apart, while others say that we have never lived as well as we do now.
— I disagree with both sides. Latvia has achieved a lot, but at the same time, there are not many reasons for great joy. The geopolitical situation we are in does not allow anyone to confidently assert that we are living better than ever. Perhaps we are now living on the edge of the abyss.
The fact that we are economically living relatively well means nothing. The national debt is growing faster and faster, and someday it will have to be repaid. Comparing the current situation with how it was before is not entirely correct. Time moves forward, so it is quite logical that things should get better. When comparing ourselves to our neighbors, we know what the situation is. We are not the strongest, even though in 1990 we started from almost the same starting positions. Now Latvia has found itself among the laggards.
