On Thursday, 23 November, Dr. art. Arnolds Laimonis Klotiņš received the Baltic Assembly (BA) Prize for Science at the award ceremony in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The Prize was awarded for his monographs Mūzika pēckara staļinismā: Latvijas mūzikas dzīve un jaunrade 1944–1953 (Music in Post-war Stalinism: Latvian Music Life and Creativity 1944–1953) and Mūzika bēgļu gaitās: Latviešu mūzikas dzīve un jaunrade pēckara Eiropā 1944–1951 (Music in Exodus: Latvian Musical Life and Creative Work in Post-war Europe 1944–1951).

During its Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Latvia has steadfastly supported Ukraine, actively working to ensure that justice would prevail, highlighted Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). On Tuesday, 21 November, the Latvian delegation to PACE met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the results of Latvia’s Presidency. 

“This day is the source of pride and respect for our country. On this festive day, we all recognise the spirit of Latvia, which is alive and strong like the everlasting oak tree that grows on our land. Let us honour this day, and may our country withstand every storm and preserve peace and prosperity for our people in the future”, stated Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Saturday, 18 November, at the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima in honour of the 105th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.

In order to promote a balanced development of commercial activities in the territory of the country, the Saeima on Wednesday, 15 November, approved in the third and final reading a law transferring state-owned real estate without compensation to the Augšdaugava Municipality for establishing an industrial park.

Two persons of legal age will have the opportunity to legally register their relationship by contacting a notary and entering into a partnership. This is provided for by amendments to several laws adopted by the Saeima in the second and final reading on Thursday, 9 November. The amendments will ensure the legal and social protection of these persons. The law also stipulates that partnership does not equate to marriage.

On Tuesday, 7 November, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Head of the Group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Germany, met with Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, Chair of the Justice Committee of the Bundestag, and the Committee members, and discussed the next steps to prosecute Russia for the crimes of aggression committed in Ukraine. 

“Germany is one of our most important trading partners and foreign investors. We see great potential to expand cooperation in areas with high added value, including renewable energy, digitalisation and defence," said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Chair of the Group for promoting cooperation with the German Parliament, on Monday 6 November, meeting with Wolfgang Kubicki, Vice President of the German Bundestag in Berlin, Germany.

"This is the twenty-sixth occasion of the tradition where the Minister of Finance brings the state budget to the Saeima in a symbolic briefcase. The Saeima will get to work immediately —on 9 November, the draft budget will be submitted to the committees; MPs will carefully evaluate, discuss, and provide suggestions regarding the draft budget. On 16 November, it will be considered in the first reading," said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 3 November, upon receiving the traditional briefcase containing next year’s draft budget from Arvils Ašeradens, Minister of Finance.