Local leadership during the territorial amalgamation process – the case of Latvia

Stučka, Malvīne (author)

Purpose: The article aims to present evidence of the role of the mayors in the territorial amalgamation process, focusing on their relationship with voters and other stakeholders and on the transformation processes experienced by local governments. Given their status as the highest-ranking officials enjoying voters’ and deputies’ support, mayors play an essential role in either implementing or, on the contrary, impeding local government reforms. As they have the power, knowledge, and expertise to influence the implementation of local government reforms, it becomes essential to evaluate their role. Design: The article examines the role of mayors in local government reforms, particularly in the context of the recent territorial amalgamation reforms in Latvia. Through a literature review and analysis of results from the recent amalgamation, the article explores the complex relationships that mayors have with other stakeholders and the transformation processes within their respective local governments. Findings: The study highlights the importance of mayors in providing effective leadership during reform initiatives and the potential implications for their reputation and electoral outcomes. The results show that mayors primarily use media, public consultations, public letters, and even the possibility of resignation to influence the territorial amalgamation process. Academic contribution to the field: While there has been research on territorial amalgamation, the role of the mayor is often overlooked, especially in a top-down initiated process where, despite its features, the mayor still possesses the tools to shape the course of the territorial amalgamation process. The article presents the reform experience in Latvia as a small state. Value: This research provides valuable insights into the role of mayors in the territorial amalgamation process in Latvia and its implications for local government reform. The findings contribute to the existing literature by comprehensively analysing the mayor’s influence on the reform agenda and implementation strategies.

• Language: English
• Keywords: local government, territorial amalgamation, local leadership, Latvia
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FU - Faculty of Administration
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 61-84, 106-107
• Numbering: Vol. 21, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-148683
• UDC: 352(474.3)
• ISSN on article: 2591-2240
• DOI: 10.17573/cepar.2023.1.03
• COBISS.SI-ID: 157526275
• Publication date in RUL: 31.08.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Central European public administration review
• Shortened title: CEPAR
• Publisher: Fakulteta za upravo
• ISSN: 2591-2240
• COBISS.SI-ID: 293849600

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vloga županov v procesu združevanja teritorialnih enot – primer Latvije

Abstract

Namen: Namen članka je predstaviti vlogo županov v procesu združevanja teritorialnih enot. Izpostavljen je njihov odnos z volivci in drugimi zainteresiranimi stranmi ter proces preoblikovanja lokalne samouprave. Kot najvišji lokalni uradniki, ki uživajo podporo volivcev in poslancev, imajo župani bistveno vlogo pri izvajanju ali, nasprotno, oviranju reform lokalne samouprave. Ocena njihove vloge je nujna, saj imajo župani tako moč kot znanje in izkušnje, s katerimi lahko vplivajo na izvajanje reform lokalne samouprave. Zasnova: Članek obravnava vlogo županov pri reformah lokalne samouprave, zlasti v okviru nedavnega združevanja teritorialnih enot v Latviji. S pregledom literature in analizo rezultatov nedavnega združevanja članek raziskuje zapletene odnose, ki jih imajo župani z drugimi deležniki, ter procese preoblikovanja v njihovih lokalnih samoupravah.Ugotovitve: Študija poudarja pomen županov pri zagotavljanju učinkovitega vodenja v povezavi z reformnimi pobudami ter morebitne posledice za njihov ugled in volilne rezultate. Rezultati kažejo, da župani na proces združevanja teritorialnih enot vplivajo predvsem prek medijev, javnih posvetovanj, javnih pisem in celo prek možnosti odstopa s svoje funkcije. Akademski prispevek k znanstvenem področju: Čeprav je na voljo kar nekaj raziskav o združevanju teritorialnih enot, je vloga župana pri tem pogosto spregledana. To zlasti velja za proces, ki poteka od zgoraj navzdol, kjer ima župan še vedno pomemben vpliv na potek združevanja teritorialnih enot. V članku so na primeru Latvije predstavljene izkušnje z reformami v manjši državi. Vrednost: Raziskava prinaša dragocen vpogled v vlogo županov v procesu združevanja teritorialnih enot v Latviji in njene posledice za reformo lokalne samouprave. Ugotovitve pomembno prispevajo k obstoječi literaturi, saj celovito analizirajo vpliv župana na program reform in strategijo njihovega izvajanja.

• Keywords: lokalna uprava, združevanje teritorialnih enot, župani, Latvija