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On Friday, 3 June, members of the Youth Parliament adopted four declarations of participation in the further development of Latvia stressing the role of young people and the importance of their participation in the legislative process.

At the closing of the Youth Parliament, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, thanked each young person for their participation and presented them with a diploma. “The Latvian parliament is open to all new ideas and to everyone, including you – the youth. The fervour of youth and even the daring nature of some ideas give the impulses necessary to implement important ideas in reality; that is a valuable contribution to your native city, region and the entire Latvia,” said Āboltiņa.

Members of the Youth Parliament adopted four declarations: On the Participation of Children and Youths of Latvia in the Resolution of European Union Issues, On the Involvement of Children and Youths in the Formation of the Educational and Cultural Area of Latvia, On the Contribution of Children and Youths in the Development of a Modern Economy in Latvia, and On the Participation of Children and Youths in the Shaping a Modern Society in Latvia. All of these declarations will be submitted for evaluation by the members of the Saeima, as well as youth organisations. 

“I am certain that today you have gained a lot of experience and new friends, as well as the necessary knowledge to fully understand the work of MPs and to further participate in the legislative process. In the future you may want to actively participate in Latvia’s politics yourselves. I hope that today we have established a new tradition and that the Youth Parliament will be as active and creative next year as you have been,” said the Speaker.  

The Youth Parliament closely emulated the routine of the Saeima – meetings of the sectoral committees took place, as well as a plenary sitting with debates and voting. The young people were made to feel at home in the parliament by Speaker Āboltiņa who chaired the plenary sittings and the Presidium meeting of the Youth Parliaments, as well as by members of parliament, who chaired the Youth Parliament committee meetings.

There were four committees in the Youth Parliament: the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee, the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee and the European Affairs Committee. The participants of the committees expressed their suggestions for improving the draft declarations, which had been drafted after compiling ideas on the development and future of Latvia as voiced by the candidates of the Youth Parliament.

Schoolchildren from all regions of Latvia took part in the Youth Parliament. The motto of the Youth Parliament is Through experience to understanding! because participation fosters better understanding of the routine work of the parliament, as well as political processes in a parliamentary democracy. The Youth Parliament is organised by the parliament of Latvia in cooperation with pro-transparency NGO Delna and the Children’s Forum of Latvia.

Saeima Press Service