Address by the President of the Constitutional Court Aldis Laviņš on the first day sealing event of the postal stamp “Constitution 100”
Aldis Laviņš
President of the Constitutional Court
Address on the first day sealing event of the postal stamp “Constitution 100”
Riga 6 May 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen!
During Democracy Week, the Constitutional Court is honoured to be the home of the first day sealing of the postal stamp “Constitution 100”. All day the Constitutional Court is open to anyone who wishes to send good thoughts and words to their family, friends, Latvia, Europe and the world.
Democracy Week, when we celebrate convening of the Constitutional Assembly and the restoration of Latvia’s independence, the Europe Day, is an opportunity to appreciate the importance of democracy, the rule of law and a united Europe. It is therefore symbolic that on the centenary of the Constitution, a postal stamp has been issued to remind us of the importance of the Constitution in ensuring freedom and peace. On the day of the convening of the Constitutional Assembly, Jānis Čakste promised to “ensure that our country develops in the right way, that law and order, […] contentment come to us.” The leader of Awakening, Dainis Īvāns, reminded us all that freedom is our duty, and that each generation must find the inner strength to uphold the spirit of the Constitution of our country.
It is noteworthy that the first stamp of the Republic of Latvia, issued on 18 December 1918, depicts the artist Ancis Cīrulis’s vision of the coat of arms of the Latvian state. This year’s stamp reflects the vision of artist Arta Ozola-Jaunarāja about the Constitution. Along with the Latvian coat of arms, flag and anthem, the Constitution is also a symbol of our statehood, ensuring the existence and development of the nation, the Latvian language and culture throughout the centuries, promoting the freedom and well-being of everyone.
The stamp “Constitution 100” directly reflects the place of the Constitution in the hierarchy of laws and regulations and invites to open the Constitution. The QR code embedded in the envelope opens the website dedicated to the Centenary of the Constitution, which contains a wealth of information about the Constitution. The story of the Centenary of the Constitution thus forms a unified visual and substantive message. The Constitutional Court appreciates the cooperation with the artist Arta Ozola-Jaunarāja. Thank you for your creative ideas and dedicated work!
A stamp is legally a security. It allows anyone to send an important message to someone they care about. I am pleased that the ideas of the Constitution are reflected in such testimonies of the era as a postal stamp and a coin. Both of these projects are ideas nurtured by the Constitutional Court and cooperation partners. I would like to express my special gratitude to Latvijas Pasts for their responsiveness, implementation of the idea and creation of a festive atmosphere during the Democracy Week.
The Centenary of the Constitution is a relentless call to celebrate the Constitution – that Latvia is a free, independent, democratic and law-governed country, where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy freedom and achieve prosperity and happiness!