On Thursday, 1 June, the Saeima adopted a statement expressing support for Ukraine at the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius and urging for a decision to invite Ukraine to join the alliance.
Press releases
Saeima elects Edgars Rinkēvičs as President of Latvia (31.05.2023.)
On Wednesday, 31 May, the Saeima elected Edgars Rinkēvičs to the office of President of Latvia. Edgars Rinkēvičs was elected in the third round in an open ballot using ballot papers with 52 votes “for” and 35 “against”.
“You are a dream team, you managed to accomplish the impossible. Bear the Latvian flag with honour, we know that this is just the beginning," said Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns, on Monday, 29 May, in a solemn ceremony held in the Riga Castle welcoming Latvian men’s hockey team — bronze medal winners of the 2023 World Ice Hockey Championship.
Saeima to hold presidential elections on 31 May (29.05.2023.)
On Wednesday, 31 May, the Saeima will hold an extraordinary sitting, scheduled to start at 9:00 with presidential elections on agenda. Members of Parliament have nominated Elīna Pinto, Uldis Pīlēns, and Edgars Rinkēvičs as presidential candidates.
Saeima designates 29 May a holiday (28.05.2023.)
On Sunday, May 28, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the law “On Public Holidays, Commemoration Days, and Celebration Days”, designating 29 May a public holiday in honour of the Latvian ice hockey team’s 2023 World Ice Hockey Championship bronze medal win.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica: International community must do everything to return Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia (25.05.2023.)
It is the responsibility of the international community to do everything to find and return the Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia to their homeland,” said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian PACE delegation on Thursday, 25 May.
On Thursday, 25 May, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the European Parliament Election Law, which set out the possibility for voters to vote at any polling station.
Speaker Smiltēns at energy forum: Energy decisions are a matter of national security and the lifeblood of economy (22.05.2023.)
“Energy strategy decisions cannot be taken by select ministries; they must emerge at the Saeima and with broad political participation, as decisions concerning energy are a matter of national security, the lifeblood of economy, attracting investments, and growth,” emphasised Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 22 May, at the opening of an energy forum at the Parliament.
Edvards Smiltēns to speakers of the Baltic parliaments in Tallinn: Baltic States’ cooperation strengthens regional security (19.05.2023.)
“The Baltic States share a similar view of security challenges and our cooperation strengthens regional security,” Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, highlighted on Friday, 19 May, in the Estonian capital of Tallinn when meeting with Lauri Hussar, Speaker of the Parliament of Estonia, and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Parliament of Lithuania.
The Saeima and NGO forum emphasises dialogue in representing and defending the interests of different social groups (19.05.2023.)
On Friday, 19 May, the annual Saeima and non-governmental organisation (NGO) forum took place at the main building of the Saeima. This year the forum was focused on security aspects, with an emphasis on the importance of democracy and civic awareness, support for Ukraine and prosperity for national development.