Last year, the Saeima received 7,091 submissions, almost two thousand more than in 2010.

Last year, submissions were mostly filed by post or in person. As has become tradition, most letters from the general public were addressed to Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, and to heads of parliamentary groups and committees.

In 2011, the Saeima received submissions as a part of various social campaigns. The Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia ran a campaign during which more than 25,000 people addressed the parliament demanding to keep early retirement an option. The Latvian Health and Social Care Workers' Trade Union launched a campaign that lead to the Saeima receiving more than two thousand individual submissions regarding the situation in the national health care system.

People were keener on using the services of the Saeima Visitor and Information Centre, as the number of its clients reached 3,471 last year. More and more people use the opportunity to meet members and officials of the parliament in the Visitor and Information Centre, and 525 people did so in 2011.

Last year, the hotline of the Saeima was as popular as the year before. Most of the callers inquired about contact details of MPs or committees of the Saeima, as well as about the work of the Saeima.

The Visitor and Information Centre was established three years ago to enhance the dialogue between the parliament and society and to encourage involvement of individuals in the work of the Saeima. Staff members of the Centre provide information about the work of the Saeima, opportunities to meet members and officials of the parliament and take a tour of the main building of the Saeima. Visitors of the Centre can also view informative materials and multimedia presentations about the Saeima, its history and activities. The Centre also accepts individual submissions to the Saeima, provides information about the status of received submissions and the deadlines for replying.

The Visitor and Information Centre is located in Riga, on Jēkaba iela 16 (entrance from Trokšņu iela). Its visiting hours are on business days from 9:00 to 16:30. No pass is needed to enter the Centre. Information can be received not only in person, but also by phone +371 67087321 or by e-mail info@saeima.lv.

Saeima Press Service