Madona Municipality Drafts Rules on Symbols and Keeps Varakļāni's Identity

Madona municipality in Latvia, which after the territorial reform also includes the former Varakļāni municipality, is preparing a draft of binding regulations titled "On the Symbols and Visual Identity Elements of Madona Municipality". The document provides that in the newly formed municipality the symbols and visual identity of Varakļāni town will be used alongside those of Madona municipality. In September the local authority invited residents to share their views on the draft.

What the rules cover

The draft describes the municipality's official symbols: the coats of arms and flags of the municipality, its towns and its parishes, as well as the municipal pennant. It also describes visual identity elements, including the logo, slogan, colours, typefaces, pictograms and the visual identity of other municipal institutions, territories and events.

The rules set out how these elements may be used. They specify the cases in which third parties need the municipality's permission, the procedure for obtaining permission to use visual identity elements commercially, and the prohibitions on use.

Why new rules are needed

Neither Madona municipality nor the former Varakļāni municipality has so far issued binding regulations on how municipal symbols and visual identity elements may be used. A completely new, unified set of rules for the whole municipality is therefore being drawn up.

The article's author stresses that identity matters greatly, whether it concerns a person or a place. The full source text is available only to subscribers, so further details about the draft and its next steps are not included here.