Press releases

Speakers of Latvia and Ukraine to co-host the Parliamentary Summit of International Crimea Platform in Riga
The third Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform will convene in Riga this October and will be co-hosted by Speaker of the Saeima of Latvia Daiga Mieriņa and Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Saeima categorically condemns the holding of Russian presidential elections in occupied and annexed territories of Ukraine
In light of the Russian presidential elections set to take place this weekend, on Thursday, 14 March, the Saeima adopted a Statement categorically condemning the holding of the elections in the temporarily occupied and illegally annexed territories of Ukraine. According to Members of the Saeima, such actions carried out by Russia within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine are illegal, and the results of the elections will not be recognised.
Saeima adopts amendments to improve animal welfare and traceability
On Thursday, 14 March, the Saeima adopted in the third and final reading amendments to the Animal Protection Law with the aim of improving animal welfare. The new requirements concern the keeping, breeding, and surrendering of pets. In addition, the amendments facilitate animal traceability.
New model for doctoral studies; students to receive remuneration
On Thursday, 14 March, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions, establishing a new model for doctoral studies, changing the funding procedure, introducing remuneration for doctoral students for the duration of their studies, and creating a unified doctoral degree conferral procedure.
Reducing administrative burden for innovative entrepreneurship and priority projects
In order to promote export-oriented investments and to provide an environment for the development of new products, technologies and services, the Saeima supported the urgent draft law on support for innovative business and priority projects on Thursday, 14 March, in the second – final – reading.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica: support for Ukraine is the fight for the rule of law and justice
“The feeling of impunity leads to new crimes. Justice must be ensured and all perpetrators brought to justice. Justice can only be ensured by the victory of Ukraine," said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, on Thursday, 7 March, at the meeting of the Assembly’s Standing Committee, which takes place this time in the French Senate, Paris. The Committee’s debate was dedicated to two years since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. 
Speaker Mieriņa to Zimbabwean Speaker: Together, we must stand up for compliance with international law
“It is essential for the international community to strongly insist on respect for international law in relations between states. Russia’s war in Ukraine affects the global economy and threatens the global democratic order,” emphasised Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday 6 March, meeting in the Latvian parliament with Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Zimbabwe. This is a regional visit of the Zimbabwean Speaker who is visiting also Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica elected Chair of the PACE Monitoring Committee
On Tuesday, 6 March, in Paris, the capital of France, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), was elected Chair of the PACE Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee). Kalniņa-Lukaševica is the first representative from Latvia to become leader of the Committee.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica: Russia wages war against democracy, human rights, and rule of law
The assassination of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny unfortunately did not come as a surprise— this is not the first political murder by the Kremlin. Today, there are more than 1000 political prisoners in Russia, and the situation in Belarus is even worse. The only possible way in which we, Europe and the civilised world, can help them and ensure that justice prevails is secure Ukraine’s victory against Russia’s aggression, emphasised Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), addressing a meeting of PACE’s Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy on Tuesday, 5 March, in Paris, France.
In open letter, European national parliament speakers urge U.S. House of Representatives to promptly decide on aid for Ukraine
In an open letter, the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa, along with the parliament speakers of several other European countries, urges the U.S. House of Representatives to expedite decisions regarding assistance to foreign countries and providing Ukraine with the necessary funds to continue its fight.
Otrdien, 19.martā
10:00  Saeimas sekretāra Edvarda Smiltēna tikšanās ar Amerikas Savienoto Valstu ārkārtējo un pilnvaroto vēstnieku Latvijas Republikā V.E. Christopher Robinson
10:00  Cilvēktiesību un sabiedrisko lietu komisijas sēde
10:00  Izglītības, kultūras un zinātnes komisijas sēde
10:00  Aizsardzības, iekšlietu un korupcijas novēršanas komisijas sēde
10:00  Valsts pārvaldes un pašvaldības komisijas sēde
10:00  Tautsaimniecības, agrārās, vides un reģionālās politikas komisijas sēde
10:00  Sociālo un darba lietu komisijas sēde
12:00  Publisko izdevumu un revīzijas komisijas sēde
13:00  Aizsardzības, iekšlietu un korupcijas novēršanas komisijas Visaptverošas valsts aizsardzības apakškomisijas sēde
13:00  Sociālo un darba lietu komisijas Sabiedrības veselības apakškomisijas sēde
13:00  Saeimas priekšsēdētājas V.E. Daigas Mieriņas tikšanās ar Apvienoto Arābu Emirātu ārkārtējo un pilnvaroto vēstnieci Latvijas Republikā V.E. Hanan Khalfan Obaid Ali Al Madhani
13:45  Saeimas priekšsēdētājas V.E. Daigas Mieriņas tikšanās ar Vācijas Federatīvās Republikas ārkārtējo un pilnvaroto vēstnieku Latvijas Republikā V.E. Christian Heldt
14:00  Budžeta un finanšu (nodokļu) komisijas Ēnu ekonomikas apkarošanas apakškomisijas sēde
14:00  Izglītības, kultūras un zinātnes komisijas Augstākās izglītības, zinātnes un cilvēkkapitāla apakškomisijas sēde
14:30  Tautsaimniecības, agrārās, vides un reģionālās politikas komisijas Vides, klimata un enerģētikas apakškomisijas sēde
14:30  Saeimas priekšsēdētājas biedres Zandas Kalniņas-Lukaševicas tikšanās ar Bosnijas un Hercegovinas ārkārtējo un pilnvaroto vēstnieci Latvijas Republikā V.E. Anesa Kundurović Miljak
15:30  Saeimas priekšsēdētājas biedres Zandas Kalniņas-Lukaševicas tikšanās ar Brazīlijas Federatīvās Republikas ārkārtējo un pilnvaroto vēstnieci Latvijas Republikā V.E. Maria Edileuza Fontenele Reis