An interview with Imants Parādnieks, head of the “Demographic Affairs Centre” cooperation platform and advisor to the Prime Minister on demographic issues.

This spring, as Covid-19 restrictions began, affecting the economy and movement, anxious comments were voiced that a negative development of the situation could lead to a new wave of emigration. Has there been any basis for such concerns?

In my opinion, quite the opposite has happened: Latvians are returning to Latvia, not only because of Covid-19, although it must be said that for many it has been an additional incentive to return. But there are several factors to this process, and my successfully operating PAPS (Helping you return to your own hearth) programme – https://www.paps.lv/ – has certainly contributed its share. Currently, the situation is encouraging; our people are returning because… there are no gold mines elsewhere, our home, Latvia, is a place we can make the best in the world, and it is in our power alone to do so.

Those who seek success elsewhere do so for various reasons. However, it is even good if a person gets to know other lands, cultures, and work elsewhere, gains new skills and experience, and earns money, but there is no Klondike anywhere! Everything is achieved through hard work. There are definitely people for whom understanding what is what comes only after “getting burnt”. As I cannot confirm the concerns expressed in the question, the most important thing is who and what kind of people are returning, what experience they have gained, what they wish to achieve in Latvia, and also what support they receive from their state, so that this process is as favourable as possible.

Have there been any surveys or studies on what returnees are doing and how they are getting on?

On the aforementioned website, PAPS.lv, there are many inspiring stories. Data from the Central Statistical Bureau show that the balance (those leaving and those returning) is not negative – the negative migration balance is shrinking significantly, and this year it could reach a level close to “0”. Looking at birth rates, the natural increase figures among Latvians specifically had been positive since 2015, only dropping below “0” in the last two years, though this could partly be due to parents increasingly not stating their nationality, which I personally find quite peculiar... This confirms: Latvians have a different vision of the world and a different value system, we feel a sense of belonging. Even in difficult circumstances, the desire to ensure the continuation of oneself and one’s kin through children prevails. Various surveys show that people want more than two children in a family (the average statistical figure is around 2.4-2.5). Many developments point to good trends. It is the task and duty of state and municipal institutions to help fulfil the wishes of our own people and to support families with children. And in this regard, we still have a great deal of work to do...

When talking about demographic issues, an obstacle often appears that is sometimes emphasised as very important: money. Namely, benefits, support, and financial issues. To what extent is it correct to excessively and disproportionately link family matters to money?

It is neither correct nor logical! People do not bring children into the world for the sake of money (of course, there are individual exceptions). Undeniably, all forms of support, including financial, can ensure a person’s standard of living to an appropriate level. No one is paid a higher salary just because they have children in their family. Remuneration is determined based on professional criteria and performance!

How can the public sector (state, municipalities) help families? For example, by setting tax allowances or dividing and redistributing tax revenues. What have we achieved? One good deed would certainly be an increase in allowances for dependent children. Unfortunately, among politicians (especially in the current government), the goals of supporting families with children are simplified to a political absurdity: “Oh, the National Alliance and Imants Parādnieks personally are only lobbying for an increase in financial support.” It is clear that the truth is different, but... those who find it convenient to speak that way act accordingly.

2020 is the first year when, despite various events, the reform of the family state benefit (which had not been carried out since 2008 – the previous economic crisis) has been “set in motion”.

Yes, we have already managed to achieve something previously to increase the amount of family benefits when we secured supplements depending on the number of children in a family, but it must be understood that this was and is a temporary option, because, in our opinion, the entire system must be changed! It becomes sad to listen to those people who, when mentioning child benefits, cite only 11 euros, stating: “That is all! So very little...”

That is nowhere near all! Besides the fact that the benefit amount increases for each child, there is also significant state support of 50 euros for each dependent – which remains in a person's pocket in the form of a tax allowance. State support should be viewed as a whole: both benefits and tax allowances. In an economically active family, one of the parents usually works and “feels” this support very directly. Furthermore, there is also an allowance for a non-working spouse if they are taking care of a child up to 3 years old. That would be another 50 euros. Of course, the amount of benefits is not satisfactory, especially if the family is larger. What should definitely be changed is that payments should not be based on the child’s birth order (1st, 3rd, or 4th), but on the number of children in the family the family is currently caring for. This principle must be the basis of the benefit reform. This year we brought this issue to the forefront; in previous years many other things have been improved, not everywhere are processes good and orderly, but, I emphasise, the logical time for this issue has arrived in policy priorities.

We have also initiated and participated in solving the problem of housing accessibility, starting with the state guarantee programme implemented by ALTUM since 2014 and specifically focusing on ensuring that large families have better opportunities to acquire housing. From 1 July this year, the state programme “Balsts” is in operation – subsidies for large families for the purchase or construction of housing in the amount of 8,000–12,000 euros.

Any support policy, including for families, is made up of many things; none of them can be viewed in isolation from the others. Moreover, there is no single instrument that could “on its own” (in one specific programme) resolve the issues of family support policy. That is not possible! Because there are many and various reasons that allow families to decide in favour of a first or next baby.

For example, a very important factor is the availability of kindergartens, which is still a problem in many places. Because – either you have the opportunity to combine work and family life, or you face obstacles. When a baby is born, the mother usually goes on maternity leave. As time passes and she wants to return to work, a situation must be created at the state level so that this opportunity exists for the young mother. Yes, the opportunity to work, rather than worry: where and how to “put the child”, who to give the little one to for supervision, whether one will have to pay for it, etc!

In the Pierīga region, this is very complicated because there is a shortage of both municipal and private kindergartens, as well as nannies. This circumstance does nothing to encourage a young family to think about the next child.

Demographic policy is more complex than “there is money or there is not”; financial support is just one of the many types of support. No less or even much more important is the availability of various services or other types of specifically targeted support. When in 2012, upon the adoption of the budget, we put forward the so-called “demographics ultimatum”, we set the availability of kindergartens as one of the important matters and succeeded in having mandatory municipal co-financing for private kindergartens, based on a specific methodology, written into the law. Already in 2017, I developed a system at the DLC for ensuring the accessibility of preschool education and childcare, which there is hope of implementing from next year, although political upheavals will continue... The cornerstone of the “ultimatum” was changes in the payment of parental benefits. At that time, a mother was paid for only one year for childcare, which was not logical, because it is the municipality’s duty to provide a kindergarten from the child’s age of 1.5 years. The changes were implemented.

Last year, when interviewing the then-mayor of Smiltene, Gints Kukainis, I heard his initiative to encourage people to live in rural areas. “Come live in our municipality!” can now be read and heard in many places... What should be done in municipalities so that there are more people?

Latvia’s geographical situation is fortunate – even from the most distant places, it is 150 or 200, or a little more, kilometres to the capital. In other countries, people travel such distances every day, driving to work. For us, everything is quite simply reachable. Latvia has every opportunity to organise family and work life across a wide geographical range.

Yes, for a Latvian, “their own little corner” has always been important! Even better if this corner includes a little plot of land. What should be done? Together with colleagues in the Ministry of Economics, I am working on a state-level housing policy strategy. One of its directions is to create a platform (foundation), including financial instruments, so that municipalities have the opportunity to create so-called “cluster villages” with modular houses on municipal land. So that there is an opportunity to borrow funds on very favourable terms. In the long term, such villages would emerge outside the major centres (about 20-30 km away), creating high-quality living spaces for young families. The task of the strategy: to create a situation where a person does not have to go to the bank, coordinate projects, and perhaps receive a refusal, but rather to save their time and money in project development. Such a programme could provide for housing rental with the right to purchase and would be favourable both to the municipality and the young family.

Of course, I admit the distance from home to the workplace will be relatively longer, but that, in turn, will be compensated by living in one's own house, not in a city or a city apartment. By the way, the benefits of living outside the city were appreciated by many in the spring during the Covid-19 crisis. Real estate market experts point to a change in demand – small houses with a plot of land have become more sought after. This would be one of the directions that should definitely be worked on! Whether it be in Smiltene, Valmiera, Burtnieki, or Iecava municipality – a specific state-level policy must be created. By implementing this strategy, municipalities could achieve greater opportunities. Those that wish to will be able to become “richer” in residents, while young families will gain high-level living space. This is important when forming a housing policy strategy, which as a task is also included in the government declaration.

In this regard, I also want to mention the new “Family-friendly workplace” programme developed together with the Integration Foundation. One of the friendliest places to work in Latvia is definitely the joint-stock company “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM). This is palpable both internally within the company and externally in society. For example, various types of support for employees' families, or the Tērvete Nature Park, which is popular for many in Latvia. I personally approached the LVM management for the company to become patrons of the new programme. It is precisely this Latvian – harmony with nature – component that I want to incorporate as the most appropriate into the manifestations of the “family-friendly workplace” programme.

In the last few months, the language issue has flared up on social networks. An issue that many thought had disappeared from the agenda or should have disappeared in the 90s.

Important: in what format has such an issue arisen and why now? Talking about matters that are self-evident... What is there to say!? The National Alliance is for a Latvian environment, and that is that! All steps aimed at achieving this goal are correct. All others – are crooked! A very simple approach! Not strengthening media writing or broadcasting in Russian, but teaching the Latvian language from kindergarten and the first grade. It is not acceptable for LTV to show a segment from a school where a young person speaks Russian. A pupil! If you clearly see that a young person, a citizen of Latvia, does not speak Latvian, there is the option not to interview them. That is how it is!

One must support the distinctiveness and preservation of culture, about which there is no doubt, but that has nothing to do with the so-called “Russian-speakers”. There is a Ukrainian, there is a Russian, there is a Belarusian, there is a representative of another nationality, but the time of the Soviet man is over! Unfortunately, the problem still exists; the opportunity to solve it in the 90s was missed. If there are different political forces with different visions, unfortunately, issues are not solved or are groundlessly dragged out. At one time, even Zatler’s Reform Party, to our great surprise, came with the proposal for kindergartens only in the state language: however, upon forming the ruling coalition and us proposing to take such a direction, the stance from the coalition partners irrevocably disappeared...

In strengthening a national state, we can do a lot ourselves. Let us look at our friends, colleagues, brothers, sisters, loved ones. If someone speaks Russian with a Latvian resident daily or “switches” to the Russian language – let us ask – in whose name? Of course, one can always mention the failures of politicians, but everyone must start to actively participate in this process! Every Latvian’s duty and calling is to help those who do not know Latvian or speak it poorly to learn the language. The situation must be viewed in this way! If a client enters a petrol station and speaks Russian, I truly highly value those employees who continue the conversation in Latvian! Exactly! I have experienced several times that people “suddenly” understand quite well and also begin to speak Latvian. That is the only way to change the attitude. One must forget that “it is easier for me or him”! That is the responsibility of every member of society.

Us and Europe. Is everything in the European Union proceeding in a coordinated manner? Is Europe’s strength still in diversity?

We operate as a unified union of states. There are issues where we are stronger, there is the opportunity for our companies to “expand”, to ensure a certain security and also freedom through common military force. It would be difficult for Latvia alone.

National sentiment is the most important issue linked to values. If the whole world is losing its mind over imaginary pseudo-freedom, the uncontrolled flow of migrants, the registration of unnatural relationships, and the fragmentation of personality, that is the responsibility of the respective nation that has decided so! We have a responsibility for Latvians! The EU has always said that many issues are matters of national importance where the EU will not interfere. Regarding migrant quotas, for example, we have held the front, because in the coalition there are two forces that see this issue differently. The optimal defensive line has been held. There are issues where there can be no compromise; it is a question of the survival of the nation. One must see the positive things in the EU that must undoubtedly be strengthened. Undesirable side effects must be prevented! All processes, developments, and issues must be evaluated separately, but seen in conjunction. All problems must be dealt with wisely, and processes must be managed by ourselves so that we are equals! In Europe, there are undoubtedly bigger, more influential, and older players, but... Latvians in the early 20th century fought “across half the world” and held four fronts. If we know the abilities and strength of our ancestors, we must properly be able to do so now as well, growing at every moment!