Foto: BB.LV / дума Елгавы
In Latvia, it will inevitably be necessary to reconsider the administrative boundaries of municipalities. This opinion was expressed by the mayor of Jelgava, Mārtiņš Dāvis, who believes that in the future, the city and the surrounding Jelgava region may become a single municipality. As reported by the LETA agency, Dāvis made this statement to reporters on Monday, October 26, commenting on the initiative of residents of the former Ozolnieki region to separate from the Jelgava region. According to the mayor, the interests of residents in different areas can vary significantly. Many would like to have their own small municipality, with leadership closer to the population. However, demographic changes and urbanization, in Dāvis's opinion, make further revision of the administrative division inevitable. "This is an inevitable process; we will have to review the boundaries once again. The process of urbanization and demographic processes are unavoidable," the mayor stated. He pointed out that Jelgava already provides a number of services used not only by city residents but also by those from the surrounding region. As an example, Dāvis mentioned the collection points for sorted waste. Additionally, the city and region already have a unified civil defense system. According to the mayor, such interaction indicates that the unification of Jelgava and the Jelgava region into one municipality will eventually become a logical step. "It's just a matter of time," Dāvis believes. At the same time, he emphasized that the decision on possible unification should be made at the state level. Moreover, in his opinion, the revision of administrative divisions should not be limited to municipalities alone. Dāvis noted that the territorial organization of various state institutions does not always coincide with the boundaries of municipalities. In particular, he mentioned the differences in the regional division of police and prosecutor's office structures. "This is a global issue; it concerns more than just Ozolnieki," emphasized the chairman of the Jelgava City Council. The mayor's statement came against the backdrop of the initiative of residents of the former Ozolnieki region, who want to restore its independence. Last week, a meeting of local residents was held to discuss the possible separation of this territory from the current Jelgava region. Participants of the meeting decided to continue working on the initiative and to address the Ministry of Smart Governance and Regional Development. Additionally, it is planned to prepare a draft amendment to the Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements, which can be proposed to the members of the Saeima. As the coordinator of the initiative, Džintars Lagzdins, reported, residents hope that their proposals will be heard both in the ministry and in parliament. Before the administrative-territorial reform of 2021, the Ozolnieki region existed as an independent municipality. It included three parishes: Ozolnieki, Cēsi, and Salgale. After the reform, this territory was included in the Jelgava region. Thus, two opposing approaches to administrative organization are being discussed in the region: residents of the former Ozolnieki region advocate for the restoration of independent municipality, while the mayor of Jelgava sees the further consolidation of administrative territories as promising. So far, there are no specific decisions regarding boundary changes. Implementing such initiatives will require decisions at the state level and corresponding changes in legislation.
