There were 77 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions, but 11 abstentions.
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Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis (S), the rapporteur of the draft decision, introduced the NAP2027 to the deputies, noted that the National Development Plan (NDP) has never been completed, but its support in the Saeima is considered a “starting shot”. He also explained that although the document was a long-term plan, it also included short-term solutions to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.
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Discussing the draft decision, Daniels Pavļuts (AP!) Noted that although Latvia has made significant progress since the adoption of the previous NDP, it still lags behind its neighbors in many important indicators, such as health care and poverty reduction. Accordingly, he emphasized that NAP2027 provides significant support for medicine, digital development, green growth, media literacy and also culture.
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In his turn, Jānis Butāns (JKP) emphasized that NAP2027 shows a vision of what the transport sector in Latvia will be like in the future.
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Several deputies, including Andris Kazinovskis and Dana Reizniece-Ozola (ZZS), pointed out that the NAP2027 pays too little attention to reducing inequalities between Riga and the regions.
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However, Jānis Dombrava (VL-TB / LNNK) expressed satisfaction that NAP2027 had managed to include and reflect the most important issues for his party, including the exclusion of measures to promote immigration and the inclusion of an action map to promote public health by reducing tobacco and alcohol dependence.
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Regīna Ločmele-Luņova (S), on the other hand, noted that NAP2027 did not comply with the Satversme, as it insufficiently reduces the risks of poverty for the population. Aldis Gobzems also criticized the draft decision, emphasizing that it was a “bureaucratic document” that said nothing. He also pointed to a number of negative statistical indicators, in which Latvia is at the top.
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Sandis Riekstins (JKP) stated in the debate that NAP2027 could not be supported because it was intended to reduce the existing support for sports.
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The Saeima press service explained that NAP2027 is aimed at changing the habits of the society, striving for a higher quality of life, a more knowledgeable society, smarter entrepreneurship and greater responsibility for the quality of the environment in Latvia. The basis for this is a high-quality, efficient and developed education system that provides lifelong education to support the growth of every inhabitant of Latvia and the purposeful use of the acquired knowledge.
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Parliament’s decision notes that the rapid spread of Covid-19 around the world and the measures taken to contain the pandemic have had a serious impact on national economic development. The crisis caused by the pandemic is also a serious test for Latvian society and the state. It is an opportunity to change habits and actions, plan national development and the state budget to achieve clearly defined goals, rather than fragmented by sectors, direct more resources to more productive growth of future sectors and ideas, less – to maintain an unproductive economic structure.
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The decision states that the Covid-19 crisis has already demonstrated the relevance and importance of the NAP2027 theme “Changing Habits – The Road to Development” and the strategic goals of productivity and income, equal opportunities, regional development and social trust in terms of national sustainability.
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