RIGA - Demographic trends are particularly worrying and it is necessary to work on proposals that can be implemented as soon as possible and have a greater impact, President Edgars Rinkevics said during a meeting with Welfare Minister Uldis Augulis (Greens/Farmers) at Riga Castle on Thursday.
According to the president's advisor Martins Dregeris, the two officials discussed priority measures to be taken in the near future in order to improve the demographic situation, and the Welfare Ministry's priorities for 2025.
Security is an important factor in family planning, but material stability, healthcare for children, access to education and housing, employers' attitudes towards employees with young children, and other factors are equally important, said Rinkevics.
"Given the needs of the defense budget, we need to be realistic about what we will be able to achieve and finance additionally in 2026 to encourage families to have more children and to support children already born and their parents," the president said after the meeting.
As reported, Rinkevics said in early January that the Latvian government should work to achieve three strategic goals - strengthening security, improving demography and the economy.
According to the politician, the first priority is stopping the demographic decline, where there are things that the government can influence, such as financial support for young families, and things that affect birth rates but are not directly dependent on the current government, such as the demographic potholes of the 1990s and the impact of the war.
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