On Wednesday, 20 September, the 14th Saeima elected Daiga Mieriņa as the Speaker of the Saeima.
A total of 55 MPs in an open procedure with ballot papers voted in favour of Daiga Mieriņa as the Speaker of the 14th Saeima, and 34 MPs voted against.
In the 14th Saeima, Mieriņa is the Chair of the Public Administration and Local Government Committee and also a member of the Sustainable Development Committee, the Housing Subcommittee, and the Administrative-territorial Reform Ex-post Evaluation Subcommittee.
The Speaker is elected from among the Members of the Saeima. Edvards Smiltēns served as the Speaker of the 14th Saeima since its first sitting on 1 November 2022. Today, he was recalled from office on the basis of a proposal submitted by ten MPs.
The Speaker represents the Saeima, chairs its sittings, and keeps them in order. The Speaker also chairs the sittings of the Saeima Presidium. In the absence of the Speaker, one of the two Deputy Speakers performs these duties upon mutual agreement. The Speaker of the Saeima also acts as the President of Latvia in cases specified in the Constitution. The Speaker is a member of the National Security Council. The Council coordinates a unified national security policy implemented by the highest public authorities and state officials.
An important duty of the Speaker is the development of diplomatic relations by meeting foreign dignitaries, delegations, and ambassadors, as well as by paying official or working visits abroad.
In addition to these duties, the Speaker also serves as an MP and participates in the work of the committees and subcommittees of the Saeima.
Saeima Press Service
