Latvian Political Monitor

In the Saeima session we supported a draft decision on support for Ukrainian athletes. Mentioning our heroes is not propaganda, it is showing honor to those who have fought for their country.

A debt at least 35 years old that finally must be repaid. Satisfaction with the unanimous political support, which has not always been the case! #RīgasFilharmonija #JaunāKoncertzāle https://t.co/42LOsiwQcd

It is a pleasure to hear sensible words about the pointlessness of higher education in Latvia, as well as the disproportion between the difficulty of work duties and the remuneration of the LU rector and the rest of the management staff. While G. Bērziņš in December received, rather than earned, twenty thousand euros, the real workers, namely professors, have to fight for fourteen euros an hour. They work out of enthusiasm, not for money, but that is too little to maintain dedication and feed a family, so in the near future academic heavyweights will be missing from both the alumni and teaching staff ranks of LU. However, remuneration is only one, perhaps even the smaller, problem. Systemic injustice against teaching staff, expressed in low pay, creates psychological discomfort and increases student disrespect for lecturers, compounded by mandatory “snitching” questionnaires to be filled out at the end of each semester. Incidentally, without filling them in, one cannot register for the next study semester, but their danger is anonymity, which allows settling scores with ideologically inconvenient professors. But in the long run it is an uncompetitive environment that does not attract excellence. One might think it easy to fix – raise salaries, have the best scientists in the field teach students, create excellence that will develop the country, etc. But why doesn't that happen? In my opinion, state universities long ago lost the idea nurtured at their founding of cultivating the aristocracy of the Latvian nation, namely the intelligentsia. Instead, these institutions have become budget troughs that operate largely for their own maintenance, ignoring goals such as “student excellence” or “scientific achievements.” There are two reasons behind this. First, the entire education system is not oriented toward excellence. Second, the state university funding principle “money follows the student” is a model that degrades educational content. On the first reason. A school where children are not differentiated by their abilities and talents is like a hobby for free time in which one can safely spend the time that the child's parents would most likely spend on work. Essentially a kindergarten, but for older children, intended to make parents' lives easier. The state-set pass thresholds for centralized exams, which, for example, until recently were only 5% but now 10% in mathematics, give a clear signal about the final product of the school bench. Officials want to see Latvia as an artificial intelligence metropolis, while at the same time promoting pupils to the next grade even with a failing grade on their report card, and if there are two failing subjects, offering summer jobs. Every year, Latvian language teachers increasingly lament the inability of secondary school graduates to write a 300-word essay. And this year nothing will change either, because pedagogy is dominated by the view of all pupils' equality and of grades as a segregating element. Such views recently started a discussion about a possible ban on entrance exams for gymnasiums, because “everyone must be given equal opportunities,” while choosing to ignore the fact that such socialism of opportunities ensures an equally bad outcome for all players. Accordingly, for the reasons above, the secondary school graduate is most often an adult male without specific specialization, averagely or weakly educated. But what to do? Where to find excellence? In my opinion, every pupil has potential for excellence, but the system kills it. It does not give the opportunity to realize one's strongest sides, to end up where the pupil can realize their talents. If the system provides for failure, it cannot sort by talents. That is why I am an apologist for an education system model already tested in the interwar period, which dealt with such a problem simply. Namely, by setting standards. A word we have renounced. At that time, upon completing the eight-year primary school, two types of diplomas were issued depending on the pupil's talents in specific study directions. The “practitioner” diploma allowed continuing in vocational schools, learning trades that are truly useful in life, guarantee work and a place in the artisans' guild, if the skill was developed to excellence. The programs of these schools were adapted to the state's economic development vision, preparing new engineers for aviation, military production, electronics, etc. Meanwhile, the “theorist” diploma opened the doors of gymnasiums, clearly defining that it is a preparation path for university. No, that is not segregation. It is directing the pupil into the environment most favorable to their abilities and potential. Latvia became one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, while, for example, graduates of Austrian classical gymnasiums could not enter the University of Latvia – their diplomas were not recognized as sufficiently quality. Nowadays such a system exists in Switzerland. And, as is known, a Latvian would rather go study there than the other way around. On the second reason. Unpopularly, but our society lives under false ideas about the omnipotence of academic education in the fight against all private and collective upheavals, so a “respectable person” begins only after obtaining a bachelor's degree. But given that all secondary school graduates have the opportunity to obtain it, this causes educational inflation and universities become diploma printers without any quality coverage. Universities, including the University of Latvia, are an effective business model that sells private recognition for future life. Of course, not in all study programs. In medicine, requirements are not lowered. But in others they are. I myself, as a student, once participated as a vulgar activist in the creation of a new history bachelor's study program within a working group. It raised two problems: first, the weak preparation of new students, in fact a complete mismatch with serious academic work. Second, the decline in student numbers. Combined with the financing principle “money follows the student,” which means budget proportionality to the number of trainees, and the competence-based “Skola2030” education model, which temporarily eliminated the subject of history, this led to a natural conclusion – the need to “consolidate” study content. In other words, make it simpler, more primitive, narrower. Because there are no entrance examinations, everyone has the right to study, including those who objectively are not suitable. Therefore, to reduce the number of those who fail exams, ensuring a student flow corresponding to budget expectations and content proportional to the knowledge level of new secondary school graduates, the content is lightened. What is the outcome? It is an endless circle that will not be stopped either by the rector's salary in the tens of thousands, which in my opinion is legalized robbery while cancer patients lack medicines, nor by raising professors' and lecturers' pay. That, of course, needs to be done. Undoubtedly. However, I draw attention to the idea that serious changes in the education system can only be introduced through a transformation of the whole system, ensuring the child's development in a direction corresponding to their talents, or dividing by talents. Only specific specialization, not general education, can create excellence. https://t.co/98hgPH1Dx5

Today, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia adopted a resolution expressing firm support for the people of Ukraine and its athletes, honoring the memory of the heroes who have fallen in Ukraine’s war of defense. 🇺🇦 The Saeima once again affirms that Russia’s unprovoked full-scale aggression against Ukraine is the bloodiest war in Europe since the end of the Second World War. We stand with Ukraine — on the front line, in the international arena, and in sport. The resolution expresses incomprehension regarding the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych and the ban on Ukrainian athletes at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games from using symbols honoring their nation and the memory of fallen defenders. Commemorating fallen heroes is not propaganda — it is an expression of respect and solidarity. ‼️The Saeima condemns the actions of the International Olympic Committee and calls for genuine political neutrality at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, by prohibiting representatives of the aggressor states — Russia and Belarus — from participating.‼️ Justice and morality cannot be separated from sport. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! @r_stefanchuk @ua_parliament @heraskevych @iocmedia @Olympics @ZelenskyyUa

The lack of coalition discipline reveals the attitude towards work and the Latvian people.

We do not support the unfair IOC decision against Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych. Such a decision is unjust and undermines trust in the International Olympic Committee! @Olympics @heraskevych #StandWithUkraine #RemembranceIsNotaViolation #russiaIsNotNeutral https://t.co/H5KKp5Xbl5

Showing remembrance is not political propaganda, but humanity. Such an IOC decision completely violates the Olympic fundamental principles. Deepest respect and support to the Ukrainian skeletonist for supporting their fallen athletes to the end. 🇺🇦🤝🇱🇻 https://t.co/mJbBLJkuDV

The consumer has no right to demand service in languages other than the state language, and the service provider has no obligation to provide it (unless they agree on it.) https://t.co/ndSNXnsT7Z

☝️Foreign Minister @Braze_Baiba claims that 'our exports to Russia have decreased by more than 70-80%'. 🤷However, in reality, in 2025 alone, goods worth 960 million were exported to Russia. And Vienotība continues to reject all initiatives in the Saeima to reduce cooperation. https://t.co/DJcXCKY5e3

🔴 The Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development Raimonds Čudars (JV) has removed from office the mayor of Rēzekne, Aleksandrs Bartaševičs ("Together for Latvia"/LPV), who had not received state secret clearance. https://t.co/rqjp7eHEGs

The coalition cannot even secure a quorum for the vote on its own prime minister's resignation! @EvikaSilina @Jauna_Vienotiba

🙏 The bailiffs' feast will be interrupted! 📌Today the Saeima supported a proposal that stipulates that in case of non-payment of administrative fines, bailiffs will not be involved after a month, as is currently the case. ☝️More than 40,000 such cases are registered every year. https://t.co/cMJ2gLa0ro