Arigo Toro on child support defaulters and births to women who drink
Arigo Toro, a candidate for the Saeima (Latvia's parliament), formerly known as Aldis Gobzems, criticised court practice towards fathers on the programme “nra.lv sarunas” and argued children born to alcohol-dependent mothers should not be looked down on. The source says Latvia has just under 50,000 people who fail to pay child support.
Latvia has just under 50,000 people who do not pay child support, and most of them are men who have abandoned their children. The issue and the country's demographics were discussed on the programme “nra.lv sarunas” by lawyer and politician Arigo Toro, a candidate in the 15th Saeima elections on the “Gobzems list” who was previously widely known as Aldis Gobzems. He spoke with journalist Kristīne Kravcova.
Men in court cases
Toro believes men in Latvia have no real rights in legal disputes and start from a losing position, because courts assume a mother alone will raise a child better. In his view, experience shows the opposite: children without a good paternal example grow into weak, irresponsible men who do not care for their families, and also into girls of loose character.
Benefits and mothers who drink
The article states that ombudsmen acknowledge benefits encourage births specifically in disadvantaged families, since for them the payments serve as income.
Toro objects to those who argue about children born to alcohol-dependent mothers. He says critics should first state how many out of 10,000 women who give birth are heavy drinkers, and he considers that figure very small. He also asks whether such a woman could have more children than at present, and argues that a child born in such a family deserves a warm meal.
In his view, the demographic question cannot be neglected. Toro said the state must extend a hand, and if other women do not give birth, then children should be born to drinkers who are able and willing.
The conversation is available as a video on the NRA portal.
