Last year, the Saeima received 6,368 submissions from individuals, NGOs and other organisations. Also, more than 13,000 citizens used the opportunity to address the parliament in a collective submission for the first time.

A total of 3,124 persons requested information from the Visitor and Information Centre of the Saeima in person, and almost 1,200 phone calls were received by the Saeima hotline. The visitors became more active in meeting MPs last year; such meetings took place 630 times.

The Saeima received legislative initiatives from more than 1,600 persons. Most proposals pertained to the social sphere, budget, national economy and education. Members of the general public also expressed their opinion on the work of the Saeima and of municipalities, as well as on the latest developments in the country. Some submissions complained about the work of the state and municipal institutions and law-enforcement agencies. Furthermore, 278 submissions requested explanations of certain legal provisions.

Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, was the most frequent addressee of submissions as were members of parliament Raivis Dzintars (National Alliance of All for Latvia! and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK), Imants Parādnieks (National Alliance of All for Latvia! and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK), Jānis Ādamsons (Concord Centre) and Andrejs Judins (Unity).  As for committees of the Saeima, most submissions were received by the Legal Affairs Committee and the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee.

The collective submission signed by the greatest number of people was the one suggesting responsibility for breaching the Saeima member’s oath. This submission was signed by 13,854 citizens. This was the first time that people exercised their right to file a collective submission with the Saeima as prescribed in the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima.

Thanks to the amendments to the Law on Submissions, since September 2012 people can file their submissions with the Saeima online at www.latvija.lv.

The Visitor and Information Centre was established in 2009 to enhance the dialogue between the parliament and society and to encourage involvement of individuals in the work of the Saeima. The Centre accepts individual submissions to the Saeima, provides information about the status of received submissions and the deadlines for replying. Staff members of the Centre also provide information about the work of the Saeima, opportunities to meet members of parliament and take a tour of the main building of the Saeima. Upon prior arrangement, visitors can meet members and officials of the parliament in the premises of the Centre without a pass.

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. Information can be received not only in person but also by phone +371 67087321 or by e-mail info@saeima.lv.