“This day is the source of pride and respect for our country. On this festive day, we all recognise the spirit of Latvia, which is alive and strong like the everlasting oak tree that grows on our land. Let us honour this day, and may our country withstand every storm and preserve peace and prosperity for our people in the future”, stated Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Saturday, 18 November, at the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima in honour of the 105th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
Press releases
Honourable President of Latvia,
Antoņina Ņenaševa in Reykjavik: We must join efforts to keep women safe in our countries (15.11.2023.)
We must join efforts to make our countries prosperous and safe for women. Only then can the whole society benefit. This was underlined by Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, at the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders in Reykjavik, Iceland.
In order to promote a balanced development of commercial activities in the territory of the country, the Saeima on Wednesday, 15 November, approved in the third and final reading a law transferring state-owned real estate without compensation to the Augšdaugava Municipality for establishing an industrial park.
Saeima: Two adults will be able to enter into a partnership to be registered by a notary (10.11.2023.)
Two persons of legal age will have the opportunity to legally register their relationship by contacting a notary and entering into a partnership. This is provided for by amendments to several laws adopted by the Saeima in the second and final reading on Thursday, 9 November. The amendments will ensure the legal and social protection of these persons. The law also stipulates that partnership does not equate to marriage.
On Tuesday, 7 November, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Head of the Group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Germany, met with Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, Chair of the Justice Committee of the Bundestag, and the Committee members, and discussed the next steps to prosecute Russia for the crimes of aggression committed in Ukraine.
“Germany is one of our most important trading partners and foreign investors. We see great potential to expand cooperation in areas with high added value, including renewable energy, digitalisation and defence," said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Chair of the Group for promoting cooperation with the German Parliament, on Monday 6 November, meeting with Wolfgang Kubicki, Vice President of the German Bundestag in Berlin, Germany.
Draft state budget for 2024 submitted to the Saeima (03.11.2023.)
"This is the twenty-sixth occasion of the tradition where the Minister of Finance brings the state budget to the Saeima in a symbolic briefcase. The Saeima will get to work immediately —on 9 November, the draft budget will be submitted to the committees; MPs will carefully evaluate, discuss, and provide suggestions regarding the draft budget. On 16 November, it will be considered in the first reading," said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 3 November, upon receiving the traditional briefcase containing next year’s draft budget from Arvils Ašeradens, Minister of Finance.
Vehicles registered in Russia will be prohibited from participating in road traffic in Latvia (02.11.2023.)
To enforce the sanctions set by the European Union and reduce security risks, on Thursday, 2 November, the Saeima supported, in the final reading, urgent amendments to the Road Traffic Law. The amendments prohibit Russian vehicles from participating in road traffic if they are not registered in Latvia by the specified deadline.
In addition to fences and patrol paths, technological infrastructure is also necessary on the eastern border. To expedite the outfitting of the border with the required technology, on Thursday, 2 November, the Saeima supported in the final reading amendments to the Law on Construction of the External Land Border Infrastructure.