Proposals from public organizations to political parties and alliances to strengthen security and national development

In response to public expectations regarding security, welfare, health, education, environmental, and socio-economic development, the Civic Alliance – Latvia (CAL), in cooperation with its member organizations, has developed proposals for political forces running in the 15th Saeima elections.

Civil society is a crucial pillar of national security, democracy, and sustainable development. Therefore, the set of proposals offers practical, society-driven solutions that civil society encourages political parties and alliances to include in their election programs. To ensure the successful implementation of these proposals, politicians are also invited to cooperate closely with civil society organizations, which can contribute significant knowledge and experience.

Essence of the proposals:

• Civil society: Strengthen civil society as a guarantor of national security by recognizing it as an equal partner to the state, ensuring a safe and open operating environment, stable funding, and structured dialogue to jointly strengthen democracy and societal cohesion.
• Resilience: Enhance societal resilience by developing the civil protection system with civil society participation, implementing national-level crisis preparedness programs, providing stable funding, and promoting media literacy and the ability to identify disinformation.
• Health: Strengthen public health resilience by ensuring timely and accessible health and social care services, developing mental health and palliative care systems, enhancing cooperation with patient organizations, and improving the reimbursable medicines system.
• Education: Strengthen civic and democratic education across all age groups by involving public organizations in the design and implementation of educational content, while developing critical thinking, participation skills, understanding of security, and access to lifelong learning.
• Welfare: Develop human-centered and accessible social services, strengthen the role of communities, support senior education and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in the labor market, and promote the full social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Regional development: Provide targeted and long-term support to regions, especially rural and border areas, establish a network of community coordinators, promote citizen participation, and reduce regional inequalities through investments based on local needs.
• Environment: Strengthen environmental and climate security by involving civil society in climate change mitigation and risk prevention, while ensuring timely public information and participation in decision-making.

CAL emphasizes that civic dialogue is a vital driver of democracy, as it provides opportunities to gather and hear the views of different social groups, promoting balanced and inclusive decision-making.

Dalies: