In August 1991, people did not know what the next day would bring, but they knew what kind of Latvia they wanted. Today, we have our own state, our Constitution, a democratically elected parliament, and a secure place within the European Union and NATO. We have what people were then willing to risk everything for,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 21 August, at the ceremonial sitting of the Parliament dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the full restoration of Latvia’s independence.
Speaker Mieriņa recalled that 35 years ago, in this Plenary Chamber, one of the most important decisions in the history of the restored Latvia was made. On 21 August 1991, the Supreme Council adopted the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia with admirable composure during times of great uncertainty and when both the Latvian people and Parliament were under real threat.
The Speaker of the Saeima emphasised that the restoration of Latvia’s independence took place at a time when there was no clear plan for the further development of the state or guarantees for international support, yet there was a clear understanding about the goal and readiness to assume responsibility.
“Decisiveness is what we should carry with us from those fateful days of August. Decisiveness and responsibility. Responsibility for the state we have inherited and which we will leave to our children, grandchildren, and the generations to come. Responsibility for the decisions we make. Responsibility for the words we say,” expressed the Speaker of the Saeima, calling on everyone to ask themselves – what kind of state are we shaping today?
Addressing current challenges, Speaker Mieriņa noted that the 14th Saeima has been able to make tough decisions during a time of geopolitical upheaval and security challenges. At the same time, she emphasised the need to think about Latvia’s development in the long-term, strengthen state security and health care, shape effective state administration, and promote transparency in decision making.
“The strength of a democratic state is its transparency. Transparency needs to serve as a weapon against disinformation. Transparency needs to be a means to explain complex decisions to society,” said Speaker Mieriņa, adding that society must understand what happens at the Cabinet of Ministers, at the Saeima, or and across the public administration.
Marking the upcoming Independence Day of Ukraine, the Speaker of the Saeima stressed that Ukraine’s fight serves as a reminder of the high price of freedom and the importance of defending democracy: “It is our duty to safeguard what we once fought for ourselves and what Ukrainians are fighting for today.”
The Speaker of the Saeima also noted that the Parliament is a mirror of society. “There is a growing sense of mutual disrespect and intolerance in society. We talk a great deal about our rights, but increasingly less about responsibility, respect, and empathy,” said Speaker Mieriņa.
Concluding her address, the Speaker of the Saeima highlighted that the state is the shared responsibility of the whole of society and called on the public to place their trust in democracy, participate in elections, and demonstrate their responsibility for the country through actions.
“May we never lose the simple conviction that the people of Latvia had in August 1991: that having our own state is something of value,” wished Daiga Mieriņa.
On 21 August 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia adopted the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia. This brought the transitional period to an end and completed the de facto restoration of Latvia’s independence. The members of the Supreme Council adopted the law despite the armoured vehicles of the occupying regime rumbling in Dome Square and an army helicopter circling above the parliament building. 21 August is the date that brought de facto independence to our country, set in motion the actual restoration of state independence, reinstated the Constitution, and separated Latvia's legal system from that of the USSR.
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Saeima Press Service