Domestic violence is a problem that erodes our society like a cancer. It is not just a family matter, it is an issue for the whole of society, and countries must do everything possible to achieve zero tolerance towards gender-based violence, emphasised Speaker Ināra Mūrniece, while addressing the participants of the Women Political Leaders Global Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday, June 26.

The delegation of Latvia in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) strongly opposes PACE's decision to restore the voting rights of the Russian delegation in the organisation.

We greatly value our relationship with Japan, including the active ties between our parliaments, which we want to develop further. As confirmed by high-level visits, cooperation between Latvia and Japan is expanding, emphasised Speaker Mūrniece during a meeting in the Parliament of Japan with Tadamori Oshima, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chuichi Date, President of the House of Councillors.

On Thursday, 20 June, the Saeima adopted in the final reading under urgent procedure amendments to the Criminal Law introducing criminal liability for non-declaration or false declaration of large sums of cash when crossing the state border. 

On Thursday, 20 June, the Saeima passed on the third reading amendments introducing a ban on the use of uniforms and their elements of the armed forces, law enforcement and repressive bodies of the USSR, its republics and Nazi Germany. 

On Thursday, 13 June, the Saeima supported in the third reading the amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing. Amendments were necessary to ensure coherence between Latvian legislation and European Union law, and to eliminate the deficiencies identified in the Moneyval report of 2018. 

On Thursday, 13 June, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on the Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC) imposing several measures to reinforce prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism in the financial and capital market. 

On Thursday, 13 June, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law on International Sanctions and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia in the final reading under urgent procedure. These amendments are essential for the implementation of the Moneyval recommendations and the improvement of the financial system of Latvia stipulating that the UN financial and civil sanctions shall be enforced without delay. 

On Wednesday, 29 May, Egils Levits was elected as the President of Latvia. In the first round of elections, using an open ballot, 61 MPs voted for and 32 MPs voted against Mr Levits.

On Wednesday, 29 May, the Saeima will hold an extraordinary sitting, scheduled to start at 10:00 with presidential elections on agenda.