This week, the British-Latvian All-Party Parliamentary Group led by Christopher Pincher is visiting the Saeima. During the meetings held on Monday, 24 September, issues such as interparliamentary cooperation between Latvia and the United Kingdom, as well as economic development, were addressed.
Press releases
Āboltiņa: increasingly ample opportunities to influence political process build up people’s trust in democracy (21.09.2012.)
“People participate in elections when they trust their political leaders, when they are aware that their votes can make a change and if they appreciate the value of democracy in their well-being,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, when addressing her counterparts during the discussion on the future of representative democracy held at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments on Thursday, 20 September. The Conference is currently taking place in Strasbourg, France.
On Thursday, 20 September, in the second and final reading the Saeima adopted the amendments to the Law on National Referendums, Initiation of Legislation and European Citizens’ Initiative, thus providing national legislation with a legal framework which enables the general public to take part in shaping the policy of the European Union.
Āboltiņa meets with German parliamentarians: Relations between our countries are close and active (18.09.2012.)
Latvia and Germany have close and friendly relations on all fronts, and it is in the interest of both countries to strengthen these ties. This was emphasised by Solvita Ābotiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 17 September, when she met with the delegation of the German – Baltic Parliamentary Friendship Group of the German Bundestag.
Saeima makes EU withdraw its proposed regulation (18.09.2012.)
Along with the parliaments of 11 other EU member states, the Saeima succeeded in making the EU withdraw the proposal for a regulation on the exercise of the right to take collective action within the context of the freedom to provide services, commonly referred to as the Monti II Regulation.
Saeima adopts amendments to the state budget for 2012 (14.09.2012.)
On Thursday, 13 September, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on the State Budget for 2012, thus supporting allocation of more than 88 million lats for priority measures in such areas as transport, health-care, welfare, interior affairs, culture and education, as well as funds for several other initiatives.The amendments were adopted with 88 votes for, none against and 2 abstaining.
Āboltiņa: Turkmenistan is a promising partner for economic cooperation in Central Asia (12.09.2012.)
Turkmenistan is a promising partner for our country in Central Asia, and all the necessary prerequisites exist in order to develop closer economic cooperation, emphasised Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 11 September, when meeting with the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, in the main building of the Saeima.
Within the framework of the International Parliamentary Scholarship programme, two German students are trainees at the Saeima until 22 September. The youths will have a chance to get acquainted with the work of the members of parliament, parliamentary groups and committees. They will also attend lectures at the University of Latvia.
On 28 September, the Saeima will participate in Open Door Day for the fifth time and will welcome guests to the main building of the Saeima, where they will have the chance to receive information on opportunities to get involved in the legislative process, to see the interior and architecture of the building, as well as to find out more about the daily routine of MPs.
On Thursday, 6 September, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Citizenship Law in the second reading; these amendments will enable Latvian expatriates to acquire dual citizenship, Latvians in exile and their descendants to retain their citizenship, and ethnic Latvians and Livs permanently residing outside Latvia to be granted citizenship. The amendments will also set forth how citizenship is granted to children born in Latvia of non-citizens and to children born abroad into families of Latvian citizens.