RIGA, Oct 4 (LETA) - 74.33 percent of Varaklani Region residents would like their region to remain a separate administrative region of Latvia; if Varaklani Region was to be merged with another region, the majority would like to have their region become part of Madona Region, according to a survey carried out for Varaklani Region Council.

19.33 percent or 174 residents said that they did not want Varklani Region to remain a separate administrative division. The poll was carried out September 20 to 24, interviewing 900 out of the region's approximately 2,500 citizens of the region.

Commenting on the administrative territorial reform, respondents said that economic development of the region was the most important criterion. Culturally-historical aspect of the region's development is not considered as important, and neither is the area of the region.

If it was decided during the administrative territorial reform that Varaklani Region was to be merged with another region, 95.33 percent of respondents said they would like their region become part of Madona Region, and only 3.89 percent said they would like Varaklani Region to be merged with Rezekne Region.

Varklani Region Council's Chairman Maris Justs (For Latvia's Development) said, when asked why so few residents participated in the survey, that local residents had agreed long ago that, should Varaklani Region be merged with some of the neighboring regions, it should become part of Madona Region. "People are tired of the confusion caused by the administrative territorial reform and do not believe that they have to explain their decision to Saeima members once again. And just about a dozen residents participated in the public debate," said Justs.

According to the Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas, Varaklani Region Council had to by October 1 organize a public debate on merging Varaklani Region with some of the neighboring regions for completion of the administrative territorial reform.

On May 28, 2021 the Constitutional Court ruled that merging Varaklani Region with Rezekne Region was not in line with the Constitution.