Press releases

Smoking age limit to be raised to 20
Smoking, buying tobacco products, as well as selling them will not be allowed for persons under the age of 20. These restrictions will also apply to tobacco substitute products, herbal smoking products, electronic smoking devices and refill containers. This is provided for by amendments to the law, which were adopted by the Saeima in the final reading on Thursday, 11 January. The ban will come into force on 1 January 2025. To date, these products were available to persons aged 18 and over. 
Saeima van departs for Ukraine with donations for boarding school students
A van previously used by the Latvian Parliament has departed for Ukraine to bring gifts collected in a Christmas charity event for boarding school children in Yablunivka, Chernihiv Oblast. Afterwards, the van will be handed over to Ukraine to ensure the rotation of troops to the front line.
Saeima Resolution calls for immediate return of illegally displaced Ukrainian children to their homeland
On Thursday, 21 December, the Saeima adopted the Resolution on the return of illegally displaced Ukrainian children from the territory of Russia and Belarus to Ukraine.
Saeima signs Memorandum of Understanding to promote public participation in EU-related discussions
On Tuesday, 19 December, the Saeima, the European Commission, and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Latvia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic partnership. The aim of the Memorandum is to jointly raise awareness and educate society about important matters concerning Latvia’s membership in the European Union (EU), promote broader public participation in EU-related discussions, and inform about the role of national parliaments in EU-level decision-making.
Daiga Mieriņa to President of Slovenia: We are close allies in strengthening Europe’s security
Latvia and Slovenia are close allies, especially in strengthening European security, both by supporting Ukraine and by strengthening the common security area in the long term. This was emphasised by the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa, on Monday, 18 December, meeting with the President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar. 
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica in Paris: each deported Ukrainian child must be returned home urgently and without delay
The return of each Ukrainian child kidnapped by Russia is an urgent issue to be resolved without delay. We must be relentless and continue our fight to return each child back to their homeland, underlined 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 Friday, 15 December, at the meeting of the PACE Bureau ad hoc Committee on the situation with Ukrainian children. 
The Saeima: Municipal police to be set up in all local governments from the next year
On Thursday, December 14, the Saeima amendments to the law “On Police”, according to which as of 1 January 2024 the municipal police will have to be operational in all local governments. The amendments specify the form of establishment of the municipal police, as the obligation to establish it is already laid down in the Local Government Law.
The Saeima adopts voting procedures in local government referendums until the introduction of the online electoral register
Voting in municipal referendums until the introduction of the electronic voter register will be possible through registration envelopes. This is introduced by the Saeima on Thursday, 14 December, in the final reading of the amendments to the Local Government Referendum Law. In order to allow residents to participate in decision-making in local governments and influence the work of the council in the interests of local residents, as of 1 September 2024, the residents have the opportunity to propose local government referendums.
Saeima increases penalties for crimes against national security
On Thursday, 14 December, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments which stipulate more severe criminal liability for joining in an organised group with the aim of carrying out actions directed against the state of Latvia, assisting a foreign state in such activities, as well as espionage. The legislative initiative was submitted by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is currently in Paris, the capital of France, to participate in the meetings of the PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, the PACE Bureau, and the Bureau’s ad hoc Committee on the situation with Ukrainian children.
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