A conversation with Raivis Dzintars, Chairman of the National Alliance

The Ministry of Agriculture is under the National Alliance’s stewardship for the first time. What experience and conclusions has the NA gained from managing a sector new to its political force?

I would like to emphasise that the National Alliance’s name is broader – it still includes the historical name For Fatherland and Freedom… These are words carved into the Freedom Monument. And – here is the answer – our mission is the fatherland, our mission is freedom, and these two concepts are interconnected. Consequently, the responsibility for the land – the countryside, forests, bogs, and natural resources – is deep and symbolic. Every square metre of land is an asset – our asset – in both a spiritual and a practical (material) sense. We are responsible for ensuring that these assets are preserved and passed on to future generations more wisely, effectively, and usefully. It is both an honour and a great responsibility!

Not much time has passed, but – delving into the issues, evaluating the sector, and speaking with the Minister and the ministry team – what impression have you formed regarding the situation in the sectors?

Many necessary things are not done or come to a standstill simply because the “magic” words appear: “Yes, but…” These are echoed from various sides and by various people. It happens that so-called “green” organisations have also raised “Yes, but…” like a banner, braking things that are correct and important for sustainability. I consider myself a “green” thinker and have always supported sustainable development. Sustainability is the goal that such objections should serve, but sometimes one gets the feeling that the reasons and motives are to be found elsewhere…

In the flood of many directives and regulations, is the Latvian living and working in the countryside being forgotten?

Getting to know the people in Parliament, working and operating in this environment, and getting to know the way of thinking and the value system, there is a feeling that the Latvian identity is no longer viewed in connection with a closeness to nature, the land, and the way of life as it has traditionally been understood. Of course, one might say that nowadays everything can be done differently, and for some, “differently” automatically means “better”. We are a conservative party, and we do not agree with that. If our ancestors highly valued something for years, decades, even centuries, there is obviously a reason for it. To replace and sweep it all away is easy, but putting it into reverse will be harder. What effects does a change in lifestyle have on health? What about on the “sense of happiness” so often mentioned in recent years? What is our capacity to fulfil ourselves?

The opportunity to remain close to the land, to cultivate it, and to create value will continue to be the cornerstone of Latvian happiness, mental health, and national identity.

What are your thoughts on the return of Latvians to their homeland?

Demography is one of the problematic issues in terms of both birth rates and migration. In both cases, socio-economic conditions are important, and their significance is not worth arguing about. But besides these conditions, there is something more! I would call it motivation: where does modern man find the motivation to live in a particular place, to take root there? In what place does a person find the motivation to continue their lineage… For me personally, this is the big question to which the modern political elite and the education system provide no answer! That is not right! Our ancestors created an asset – Latvia! They have invested sweat, blood, and work to shape Latvia as Latvian, with its own culture, work, and traditions, so that what they started would continue. It is in our hands to allow the dream of our predecessors to continue or to vanish. I want to purposefully pass this very sense of responsibility for Latvia on to young people, starting from their school days.

“A little patch of one's own land” is one of the circumstances that allows one to take root and stay! The second is taking root at a spiritual level. The language we speak is important, and the traditions to which the “new world” often assigns less importance are important. Many things that people demand from life today are possible and achievable 2000 km beyond Latvia’s borders.

It is often said: “The Latvian has never lived as well as they do now!” Can one agree with that?

“Well” is quite a relative concept! If we look back – could we have written a letter to 20 people 50 years ago and received an answer within a few minutes? No! Today we can, but does that make us happier? Often we expect this answer very quickly, and if it is delayed, resentment or surprise arises…

New circumstances and technologies, while making life simpler, also provide a series of negative side effects. Progress is not just quality of life: we gain somewhere, we lose somewhere! It is also important to understand – one can get used to a great many things very quickly. Of course, this does not apply to everyone, but if one were to try taking away mobile phones, washing machines, or computers today… These, and not only these, are basic necessities. The minimum of comforts required for life keeps growing and growing! To obtain (receive) comforts, more and more work and resources must be invested. To “be more comfortable”, one must fight more and more with others for the availability of comforts – including with compatriots. To summarise the answer – from the point of view of technology, we have been given more. Are we happier because of that? I will not answer!

Whether we feel good, whether we feel happy, depends to a large extent on ourselves! Everything necessary has been given to us: our own land, the opportunity to improve ourselves and work, to help one another, and to do it in a Latvian and beautiful way.

Often disputes or “attacks” are not political and from known opponents, but the problems are rooted in indifference, nihilism, or carelessness. Often one has to prove and fight for certain, customary things that are understood, but, in some opinions, interpreted differently… For example, the whining: “what can we do…”

There is a view that the information age has now passed and the age of attention has begun, because there is so much information that the struggle is not for information, but for attention. It has become the case that negative, destructive information attracts attention more easily. What to set against that? We must tell our own positive stories! That requires energy and time, but Latvians have something to tell! Even if it is about how products with high added value are made from forest and wood! We must talk about that and set an example – we have that in Latvia! We are proud of it!

In May, a group of National Alliance deputies went to the forests of Abava, visiting a tree nursery, forest stands, and the Resistance Movement Museum. What was the most interesting thing you saw yourself?

The scale!!!! Millions of seedlings in greenhouses! We can use the analogy of Latvia’s population, seeing all together the small seedlings that will grow into big trees… I truly felt: “We are continuing!” The Latvian has never separated themselves from nature. If you see that and how it all continues, it is a good feeling! One has to go to every seedling, it must be tended, weeded, someone’s back will ache, but it must be done!

A good thought was voiced at the Resistance Movement Museum: much has been said and is known about repressions and deportations; that sounds quite loud, but there was also long and serious resistance! We must speak louder about the resistance!

Continuing on the subject of seedlings and tending – weeds grow by themselves! They must be weeded. Speaking figuratively, there is information that spreads by itself, and there is information in whose dissemination purposeful work must be invested! Wrongdoing and worries about failure will spread on their own. A positive story (including about the resistance to the Soviet regime) must be driven purposefully; it must be included in school curricula, and teachers must be educated so that the young generation hears a full and multifaceted story. The more heroic stories there are, the more heroism we will encounter in society in both major and minor events. The Resistance Movement Museum in Renda is an excellent example of what our state's foundations are built from! Everyone can strengthen these foundations with their own story!

Much is said about the importance of education and school… Much is also being reformed…

That is true! In my opinion, every place, every school must be evaluated individually, and there can be only one exception – Latvia’s eastern border. Keeping schools there is a strategic issue.

As for schools in other regions of Latvia, the question of educational quality and its measurement “kicks in”. How to measure, how to determine? How to ensure good quality in a small school? Discussions – on how to measure – are taking place both in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Will the yardstick be centralised exams? Will it be measured by social progress? If there are precise criteria for measuring educational quality and it is seen that a school does not provide them, one must look at what to do. A lack of educational quality can be a reason why a person from a village, municipality, or parish will sooner or later leave! Perhaps sometimes it is better for them to go to another city earlier, get a good education, but stay in Latvia, rather than drop out of school and end up in Ireland. The issue must be viewed more broadly! The goal cannot be to save every educational institution at any cost without evaluating quality, but (!!!!) schools cannot be closed while looking only and exclusively at the number of students!

Are National Alliance members in the municipalities discussing the regional reform that has been started? A good idea seems to have been started from the wrong side – the promised discussion was supplemented with a “fist on the table”. The ministry and the minister, who effectively have no representation in the municipalities, need allies and support. Reform is needed. But…

The evaluation of actions regarding regional reform might not be objective, because the reform is being driven by a coalition of parties that are our competitors, and we have significant ideological differences. Speaking of the sequential order of matters and communication, certainly, many things could be done differently and better! I agree that: “a fist on the table – let’s talk” – is not the right beginning. Another thing – cooperation between municipalities could be made more effective, and there must be encouragement to do so! That is necessary. Here, the so-called nature of the Latvian as a solitary farmer is observable, as well as the desire to pull every blanket in one’s own direction… Cooperation and merger, guided by logic, are necessary! We are for reform! But the devil likes to hide in the details; it will be important – where the borders are drawn, whether the traditions and peculiarities of the respective region are taken into account. One cannot “shear” and mathematically move towards a certain number! One must rely on scientifically based and politically evaluated research.

We are watching what is happening, talking with our members in the municipalities, and will definitely talk to our coalition partners if we see illogical and unfounded actions! We will support the reform, and we will argue over specific situations if necessary!

What is missing for people to say more often and more: the state – that is me!

In my opinion, the programme of events for Latvia’s centenary was the largest body of patriotic educational events since the time of the Awakening. The main thought: “You are Latvia!” With examples, we showed what we have achieved! Latvia is a cultural superpower! It has been proven that every euro we invest in culture and science gives three euros back! The currently topical issue regarding the concert hall in Riga – discussions of “for, against” around the location must not “bury” the necessity of the hall and the project. We have world-class cultural workers who need to be offered a hall of an appropriate level where they can show themselves. That will be an investment that will definitely pay off.

Solstice. A significant time for Latvians. Person, forest, nature.

Recently, my wife conducted a small study: in which months, over various time periods, the most children were born. No need to guess – in March! In the interwar period of Latvia, this is observed quite distinctly! Those are the Jāņi children…

Our ancestors knew that the time of the Solstice is energetically special. If you sow at this time, the harvest will be impressive!

Nowadays, one must realise that the Solstice has been special for centuries – it has not been swept away by foreign powers or foreign teachings; it is important that we preserve it ourselves!