DNB Latvian Barometer: Latvia is Best Represented in World by Much-Criticised Politicians

As the winter draws to a close and there are expectations of a more hopeful and warmer season, the DNB Latvian Barometer study this time has looked at how hopefully and positively we can view our own lives and processes in Latvia.

Over the past 20 years, we have experienced serious historical events of a political, economic, cultural, educational and other type of nature.  The study shows, however, that the events which have had the most important effect on our country’s development but have perhaps attracted less attention do not always seem to be all that decisive insofar as local residents are concerned.  Phenomena and people who are criticised on a daily basis, in comparison, are of decisive importance – at least that is what the majority of respondents in the survey said.  The much-criticised politicians of Latvia, for instance, were said by more than one-half of DNB Latvian Barometer study respondents to have been the ones who have done the most on Latvia’s behalf over the past 10 years.

Asked to name the three people who have done the best in representing Latvia in the world over the past decade, respondents cited some 200 people.  53% named existing and former politicians, 39% plumped for athletes, and 38% spoke about musicians.  Actors, directors, artists, medics, businesspeople and people from other professions were cited far less often – just 4-5% of the time.  It must be added that most respondents felt that the person who best represented Latvia in the world was former Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (35%), followed by composer and former MP Raimonds Pauls (17%), the luge athletes Martins and Tomass Dukurs (17%), and then Rīga Mayor Nils Ušakovs (7%) and other well known people.

Asked about Latvia’s greatest achievements as a country, respondents in the DNB Latvian Barometer study most often mentioned success at international sports events (including the Olympics, various world championships, etc. – 42%).  37% of respondents said that joining the European Union was a major event, 35% said the same about the preservation of the Latvian lats as the national currency, and 29% pointed to Latvia’s accession to NATO as a major event.  27% of respondents, or more than one-quarter, plumped for Latvia’s ability to organise European and global events such as the World Hockey Championship and the Eurovision Song Contest as a particular achievement.  Far fewer respondents said that an achievement was Latvia’s ability to overcome the economic crisis (13%), the accomplishments of scientists (12%) or achievements in business (8-9%).

Asked about the benefits which each person in Latvia has enjoyed since the restoration of Latvia’s independence 20 years ago, 52% of respondents said that the best thing is living in an independent country, and a similar percentage pointed to the emotional benefit of being able to travel freely.  More than one-third of respondents (34%) said that the biggest benefit was the status of an official state language for the Latvian language, while 33% spoke about the ability to buy various things that were in short supply during the Soviet era.  29% pointed to free opportunities to engage in business, while 28% said the same about being able to speak out freely.  Only 12% of respondents said that the biggest benefit was greater job and career opportunities, and only 8% said that the biggest benefit was rejoining Europe and the values of the Western world.

Asked what would allow them to say that they are proud of Latvia 10 years from now, 60% of respondents said that economic indicators must be stable (GDP, inflation and unemployment figures must be acceptable), 53% spoke of improved health care, 52% pointed to a developed agricultural system, 51% said that they would be proud if there were a better social aid system (pensions, higher subsidies, help for the poor, families and people with special needs), 50% hope that Latvia will achieve the average level of welfare in the European Union, and 49% say that they would be proud if the people of Latvia who have emigrated in recent years returned home.  All of these are indicators which would allow people to be proud of Latvia and its achievements. 

It must be added here that in the context of a desire for a stable economic situation and improved welfare in the country, the indicators of the traditional and monthly DNB Latvian Barometer continued to show a positive trend this month.  After a rapid increase late in 2011, the evaluation of the overall situation worsened a bit at the beginning of this year, but respondents are more positive now about the changes which can be expected in Latvia’s economic situation.  Compared to December, the evaluation of economic development improved by four points – up by 21 points in comparison to the beginning of last year, in fact.  A similar improvement is seen when respondents are asked about the material circumstances of their families.

It is interesting that despite sceptical forecasts from experts, respondents in the DNB Latvian Barometer study have become less critical about the work of the Latvian government over the past four months.  The indicator related to the government’s operations has improved by 15 points since October 2011.  

The DNB Latvian Barometer is a recognised monthly sociological study in Latvia, and it is measured each month to study important public processes at a specific moment of time.  There is also a permanent set of questions aimed at tracking changes in the public mood from month to month.