The government hasn't "banned" Russian. The government, upon independence from the Soviet Union, declared Latvian to be the only official language of the state, and that to be a Latvian citizen, you have to be able to speak Latvian. If you want to speak Russian in your private life, you're free to do so. There are even public Russian schools, so if parents want to send their children to a Russian-speaking school, they can do so (though a certain number of lessons must be in Latvian as well). So Russian isn't banned, it is simply not for official purposes
( ... )
I think she did quite a good job as president. She did what a president was supposed to do - advise, but with power still resting with the Saiema - which is I think the best role for people who grew up in the West.
Bringing Latvia into NATO and EU was a vital strategic move - having spent the bigger part of the past two centuries dominated by Russia, Latvia needed to find some protection and assurances against such a thing happening again, and officially becoming a part of Western organizations is vital for that to happen. I'm not sure whether that was her reasoning, but it is certainly mine.
Comments 5
Reply
During her mandate, I wonder if she did a good job when she was president, what were her goals and why she brought Latvia to NATO and EU?
Reply
Bringing Latvia into NATO and EU was a vital strategic move - having spent the bigger part of the past two centuries dominated by Russia, Latvia needed to find some protection and assurances against such a thing happening again, and officially becoming a part of Western organizations is vital for that to happen. I'm not sure whether that was her reasoning, but it is certainly mine.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment