Election promises for Latgale: from border security to lower VAT
Compared to the previous Saeima elections, political parties are paying more attention to Latgale in their programs, but the focus has shifted toward border security, while concrete solutions for the economy and services remain scarce.
As Latvia approaches Saeima elections, several political parties have given more attention to the Latgale region in their platforms than they did four years ago. However, it is not just the amount of attention that has changed, but also the perspective on the region.
From a periphery to a border region
Previously, party programs largely described Latgale as an underdeveloped periphery of Latvia in need of development support. Now, the region is increasingly discussed in connection with the eastern border, with emphasis placed on the need to strengthen, guard and make it resilient against potential threats.
Few concrete economic solutions
While security issues are taking up more space in party platforms, there remain significantly fewer concrete proposals addressing how residents of the region can earn a living, travel more easily, and access necessary services. This suggests that although political attention to Latgale has grown, practical solutions to the region's economic and everyday challenges are still lacking in what parties are offering voters.
The shift reflects how Latgale's role in election rhetoric has evolved alongside the geopolitical situation over the past four years, even as the daily challenges faced by local residents have not received comparable attention in party platforms.
