Livani region is one of the few municipalities that has not been affected by the administrative territorial reform. The local government believes that it has been able to develop its region successfully, and the proposal of the Environment Protection and Regional Development Ministry to maintain it as a separate territory is logical. However, after the reform, it will be one of the smallest regions, therefore it may not live quietly, said Livani regional council chairman Andris Vaivods who had been elected from the ticket of the Union of Greens and Farmers earlier, but in the recent local election ran on the list of For Latvia’s Development, and the party won nine out of 15 lawmakers’ mandates, in an interview with LETA.

Even though the reform has not affected Livani region, what do you think about the administrative territorial reform? What is the success story of your region, why has your region managed to keep its borders?

Everything should be viewed historically. Once I worked as a deputy chairman of Rozupe municipality, and then a reform started in 1995. Since then, we "were sitting on packed suitcases", and in 2000, for the first time, the reform affected Livani region when we merged two municipalities and Livani in one region. In 2019, when 119 municipalities were established, we were the initiators of the reform.

Livani then was in a poor state, unemployment level was high. We did very much to revive business, industry in the town.

Three municipalities that were not regional centres in 1995 - Smiltene, Sigulda, Livani - got the status of the regional development centre. In regional centres, local budgets were filled also by state institutions, but we had just one way - business. Everything depended on business development. We invested in infrastructure, the industrial area. Livani had a Soviet heritage of industrial base, road, railway, and there were also specialists who knew how to do things, there were managers who are successfully working also today. In fact, there are no vacant premises in Livani right now, industrial buildings are not empty. Premises are occupied by companies oriented on export markets which is very important. We are not the smallest one. We are the third smallest municipality by the number of residents, but we are a strong municipality with a development trend. Two construction projects have been launched. We are working on another one that might get additional funding in August.

People want to live here. Wages in the region’s largest companies are very good. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we were in the fourth position in Latvia by the level of wages in the private sector, a company with over 50 employees. This is also the reason why we are a separate region. But we may not live quietly, in fact, we are among the smallest regions. Companies are expanding and they need new employees. The most important is the resident. People come to live to Livani, they need not only a wage, but also a kindergarten, a swimming pool, sports halls, culture and recreation opportunities. We are in a strategically good place, the nearest large cities are easily accessible, opening additional recreation possibilities. There is concert hall Gors in Rezekne, Jekabpils just built an ice-hall, Daugavpils has a movie theatre and Mark Rothko art center, and people don’t even have to go to Riga.

Five years ago, our business representatives suggested that employees they need in their plants could be prepared in Livani. Therefore, in cooperation with Rezekne Academy of Technologies, we found a solution and opened a branch of the academy. Initially, engineering was offered, but now there are four programs available. We have students from Madona, Jekabpils and other counties.

Many municipalities point out shortage of residential fund. How are you solving this matter? Where do the young specialists and families who arrive to Livani live?

We are granting apartments to the new families and specialists. Livani has huge residential fund. We did not have stadiums, an open-air stage, but we had plants, large schools and large residential fund. Eight to nine years ago there was a demand for one-room and two-room apartments, but now there is a demand for three-room and four-room apartments that families need.

In relation to individual homes, during the last project in the individual sectors, we connected 800 homes to centralized water supply and sewage. The houses that stood empty or had not been finished, vacant land plots - they are all sold out. Individual homes are in demand not only in Livani, but also in the neighbourhood. We have beautiful nature, rivers.

We plan to insulate five residential buildings. At present, houses only in Pieriga and large cities - Liepaja, Valmiera - are being insulated. Residents are not ready for the set requirements and the requirements are ruthless. They may not be applied in the same way across the country. 75 percent of residents should give their permission to the project, but there are people who do not care. The local council conducted energy audit, the technical project for the five houses on the expense of the municipal budget. The loan will be administered by Livani Siltums heating company because residents will not take a loan, 50 percent will be granted from the EU, but 50 percent should be taken as a loan, and the local council will be a guarantee.

How has the municipal budget been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic? Do you see less taxes coming in?

It was crazy to decide last year to take away 5 percent of personal income tax income from the municipal budgets and the Welfare Ministry added additional duties to local governments in relation to the guaranteed minimum income, support with apartments, benefits to the poor people. Of course, all of this has to be done, but, considering the changes, the municipal budget was by 12 percent of EUR 1 million smaller.

Has Covid-19 directly affected the budget?

The budget is good. Considering the current situation, we put aside a reserve from last year. At present we have a surplus because we have exporting plants and they are paying large wages. We also planned the budget with caution, dropped many projects, postponed them.

Livani has little trade, tourism and service providers, guest houses and state institutions We have large companies that are working mostly with exports. The companies are following epidemiological safety rules. Of course, there had been Covid-19 cases, but they acted swiftly, like we did in the local government with kindergartens and social care homes.

The administrative territorial reform provides that residents’ councils will work in local governments. Livani region is one of the regions with local boards. What is the role of these boards and do you actually listen into residents’ opinions?

They play a huge role. There should be communication and the local boards ensure it. Those are active people who work on the spot and know local needs. All matters in the respective territory are first addressed by the board. And there is information in the opposite direction as well - on the decision made, works done or planned.

The reform provides for formation of the municipal police. At present there is a civil officer working in Livani. What do you think about public order and security in the county, is it enough with this position?

Starting with 2024, the police will be mandatory, there are no discussions about it. It is not cheap. At present we enforce security with surveillance cameras, we have good cooperation with the State Police and we have the civil officer.

The municipal police are necessary, but we have not established the police due to one reason so far. Livani needs three to four employees with the equipment, transport that requires over EUR 100,000. We have to find money for that, but we will do it.

Do you think that the school network in Livani region is optimal or do you plan any changes?

It is a matter that decides the county’s development and future. In 2018 we worked on the education development concept. We had four secondary schools, now there are three. Livani Secondary School No. 2, where there are classes with Russian as the language of instruction, will work for two more years and will be turned into a elementary school. Livani Secondary School No. 1 and Rudzati Secondary School are very strong. I think that we should preserve the good quality schools, therefore we are working on improving quality in all education institutions.

What do you think about road infrastructure in the county? The pre-election program of For Latvia’s Development party says that you will connect Preili and Daugavpils motorways with a bypass.

The Latvian Association of Local Governments assesses how much local governments invest in roads each year. In this assessment we are among top ten local governments.

Besides large infrastructure projects, we almost have no places in the city where potholes should be repaired. For the money others invest in repairing potholes, we can put asphalt on a street, we can upgrade street lighting.

In relation to the bypass, we plan to do it in the next planning period. We cannot do it our own, but we will attract EU funds.

Should the Youth Song and Dance Festival be held this year and in what format?

Considering the very serious situation with Covid-19, the Youth School and Dance Festival should be postponed. Everything is connected, and this festival is related not only with pupils, but also with their parents, grandparents. It is a matter of health and life. We may not risk in such a way. We have the government, the parliament elected by people, this is not a matter for the local government to decide.

You said that the leader may not make mistakes or he has to step down. Do you believe that you have not made mistakes because you are in the leading position and you plan to run for the upcoming elections [the interview takes place before the municipal elections]?

I have not made mistakes, and this can be seen in Livani. The team that has been formed and has been working well for many years is ready to continue work. Of course, the situation is changing, but plans should be completed. During Covid-19, we could stop, suspend European funds, but we have been working every day, we have prepared new projects, continued the started projects. It is important to be able to adapt to the new situation and see things and processes in a long term.

The country may be strong only if all its regions and cities are strong, not only Riga, Valmiera and Pieriga. The administrative territorial reform is good and necessary.

Previously you ran for the elections from the ticket of the Union of Greens and Farmers. Now you represent the party represented also by the minister who introduced the reform. Why did you stick with the ticket of For Latvia’s Development? Is it your gratitude for retaining the region or a decision to join the party in power?

Livani region has been preserved because of our growth indicators, proved by results of many studies. It is the assessment of the long-term work of our businessmen, residents and local government. All respect to the Union of Greens and Farmers, but after the parliament elections they did not have time to visit Livani. They did not learn from their mistakes, there have been discussions about the necessary changes. I also tried to voice my opinion. I understood that there will be no changes.

For Latvia’s Development is a completely different party. I had one condition - we are a separate organization, and we have a cooperation agreement with the party. We share vision on many issues and processes, but we are not in the party directly. And it is the main matter - to be free and independent. They addressed us first. My ticket includes all 11 lawmakers that four years ago were elected from the ticket of the Union of Greens and Farmers.

Four years ago, the Union of Greens and Farmers won 11 out of 15 mandates at the local council. What result do you predict this year for For Latvia’s Development, considering that the competition will be tougher?

Yes, our region will have four tickets running for the elections, but the number of candidates is the second smallest in Latvia, only our ticket has 18 candidates. In my opinion, nine to ten mandates would be a good result [the party won nine mandates at the local elections]. I think that 11 mandates are not possible this time. But we should be the majority. We will continue cooperation with other parties if we share the vision on future development.

Why do you predict less mandates at the local council?

Because there are four tickets and many things have changed. Riga had its local elections last year, which means that previously the large parties focused mostly around Riga, but now they concentrate also on regions. Covid-19 outbreak and restrictions have also affected many matters. These elections will be held in a different situation and it will have an impact on the result.