Edvard Ratnieks has a master’s degree in law from the University of Latvia. Before being elected as a member of the City Council of Riga in November 2022 for the National Alliance/Latvian Regional Alliance party, Ratnieks was the president of the Latvian Students’ Association and the chairman of the National Electronic Media Council’s Public Advisory Council and worked as a lawyer in various positions. In recent years, he led the Ministry of Agriculture’s Council of Science and worked as the Minister’s advisor on education and science. In December 2022, he was elected vice-mayor of Riga. Ratnieks is also the vice-chairman of the Development Council of the Riga Planning Region and the co-chairman of the Association of Riga Metropole.
In December 2022, the National Conservatives of the National Alliance signed a government agreement with two other parties—New Unity (centre-right) and United List (conservatives)—and have four ministerial posts in the Latvian government: defence, economy, culture, and transport. National Alliance belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Union Parliament group.
The Russian invasion has changed everything. A Lithuanian politician told me that in his capital, Vilnius, the concern was that there were no shelters in case of bombing. How has the war affected Latvia and Riga?
The main issue was the war refugees. We realised very quickly that the conditions needed to be created for them to feel not only safe here but also get a sufficient initial package of support. At the beginning, almost 90% of refugees who had reached Latvia concentrated in Riga. This was a huge burden on Riga’s capacity and local government budget. But we managed to set up a refugee centre, where they could get all the information they needed and pass entry and settlement formalities and get food. Also, we managed to organize aid campaigns for Ukraine. People were very united at all levels.
You, like many other Latvian citizens, have joined the National Guard.
In fact, I had planned to join the National Guard a little earlier, but I became sick with COVID-19 and had to postpone the courses. When the war in Ukraine started, I quickly arranged them all and devoted time to my studies. The most difficult thing is to connect the practical training because it is for several days in the forest, simulating real battles, and military conditions. After the beginning of the war, being a part of the National Guard took on a different meaning for Latvians—a lot of men and women enlisted there, because we were all aware of the risks to which society had tried to close its eyes for many years, thinking “it won’t affect us.” In our minds, the value of freedom and patriotism increased significantly.
For 10 years until 2019, Harmony, the party of the Russian minority, ruled Riga. This party, now virtually defunct, left a huge legacy of corruption. In 2020, the city government was suspended. Is there still a corruption problem? How does the new city government deal with this past?
We tend to think that the risks of corruption have been eradicated in the Riga City Council and its subordinate institutions. Currently, we, as the new council coalition and leadership, have changed procedures and improved management so that such things are not possible. It is regrettable about this corruption that existed during the previous management—many good projects for the people of Riga could certainly have been implemented with this money.
The municipal government is a coalition of several parties. Besides overcoming inherited problems, what are the coalition’s points of agreement?
It is important for us to preserve the coalition of right-wing forces. Issues of national identity are important. Riga has a very high proportion of people with Russian nationality, including those who do not support our national values and still believe in the ‘greatness’ of the Russian Empire. This is a sufficient motivation for the existing coalition to work unitedly and purposefully because this is the only way we can implement this national course in Riga and prevent people disloyal to Latvia from taking power in Riga. I represent the most national party in Latvia—we make no compromises regarding language and nationalism. We believe that belonging to one or another nationality is not as important in Latvia, as loyalty to the Latvian state, history, language, and its national course.
What are your goals as vice-mayor? What are the challenges of running a city like Riga?
The mayor and vice-mayors of Riga have divided areas of responsibility. Before this position, I had already worked with educational infrastructure development issues, so one of my responsibilities is the infrastructure of schools, preschools, and cultural institutions. We intend to invest significantly in energy efficiency of schools and in the modernisation of school infrastructure, as well as in the creation of new sports’ facilities, so that grassroots sport can develop at the same time. I visit schools almost every week to discuss problems and solutions for improvement.
It is also my responsibility to promote cooperation and support for Ukraine. It has already developed into a heart-warming tradition, if not every week, then every second one to participate in sending aid cargo to Ukraine.
Another important responsibility for me is the municipal housing fund for young families. I have also undertaken to co-chair the Association of Riga Metropole, as well as work in the management of the Riga Planning Region. We see great growth potential for the Riga metropolis in the future, and the Riga City Council plays an important role in its promotion.
In January, you were in Kyiv to deliver humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian capital. What was your impression of its inhabitants and its mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko? How important is aid to Ukraine for Latvia?
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitalii Klitschko, left me with the impression of a very strong personality who is able to keep his spine straight against the difficulties he is currently facing due to the war. He has a very strong handshake. Ukraine is currently fighting for the whole of Europe. Ukraine’s victory in the war is as important to us as it is to Ukrainians themselves. Ukraine must not fall, because then no country in Europe will be able to feel safe. As a municipality, we help Ukraine with humanitarian aid—we have already sent twenty passenger buses with goods donated by Riga residents to Kyiv. Several movements and platforms initiated by citizens and businessmen have formed in our country, each of which generates assistance. This support is huge—some repair cars and send them to the Ukrainian front, others pin nets for soldiers and pour candles, not to mention the clothes and shoes that are donated. Entrepreneurs donate funds for electrical equipment, electronics, drones, and medicines.
