THE WORK OF ASPAZIJA AND RAINIS IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

Abstract

The article looks at how Aspazija and Rainis reacted in the Constitutional Assembly on the political and cultural challenges of the time, and what is the importance of culture in their view. Aspazija and Rainis were members of the social democratic faction in the Constitutional Assembly. During the Constitutional Assembly, the adoption of the amnesty law and agrarian reform, as well as questions about the referendum and the place of the president in Latvia, were important. Rainis spoke in a debate here. Rainis’ speeches always reflected his legal education His example of democracy in politics was Switzerland, while in culture (and in politics) – Greece. As a member of the Latvian Social Democratic Party (LSDSP) Rainis defended the most radical agrarian reform proposal, which radically transformed Latvian agriculture. Rainis consistently defended the establishment of the Culture Fund and participated in various discussions on the financing of culture, emphasizing that culture is one of the foundations of the state. Aspazija spoke less at the Constituent Assembly, her focus was on the importance of women in the new Latvia, as well as reducing social inequality. Also, the poet strongly defended the cultural field.