On Monday, 17 October, the 11th Saeima will hold its first sitting. It will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Registration of the newly elected MPs for the sitting will start at 8:00 a.m. in the grand vestibule of the main building of the Saeima located on Jēkaba iela 11.

The agenda of the first plenary sitting of the 11th Saeima was agreed upon by representatives of political parties elected to the Saeima.

In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the 10th Saeima, will open and chair this plenary sitting until the Saeima elects a new speaker. Andris Bērziņš, President of Latvia, will address the newly elected parliament at the beginning of the sitting.

At its first sitting, the newly elected Saeima will elect tellers and a temporary Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee. During its meeting, the members will verify election documents and investigate any complaints about the elections submitted to the Central Election Commission. The Committee will have to draft a report for the Saeima on the approval of mandates of MPs.

After the report by the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee, the 100 persons elected to the Saeima will take the following solemn oath in the Latvian language: “I, upon assuming the duties of a Member of the Saeima, before the people of Latvia, do swear (solemnly promise) to be loyal to Latvia, to strengthen its sovereignty and the Latvian language as the only official language, to defend Latvia as an independent and democratic state and to fulfil my duties honestly and conscientiously. I undertake to observe the Constitution and laws of Latvia.” All the newly elected MPs will have to confirm their oath with their signature.

After taking the solemn oath, MPs will vote on the draft resolution on the approval of mandates of members of the 11th Saeima.

At its first sitting, the newly elected parliament also usually elects the Presidium. It consists of the Speaker, two Deputy Speakers, the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima, it elects each member of the Presidium by voting simultaneously on all the candidates for each office by secret ballot and by using voting slips.

The government will announce its resignation at the first sitting of the 11th Saeima. After the government resigns, its members continue to fulfil their duties until the Saeima takes a vote of confidence in the new government.

Representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps are traditionally invited to the first sitting of the newly elected Saeima.

This convocation of the Saeima was elected at a different time of year than usual because the previous convocation was dissolved. According to the Constitution, in such cases, the Saeima should assemble for its first sitting within one month after the elections. Pursuant to the Saeima Election Law, the exact date was set by the Central Election Commission. 

With the first sitting of the 11th Saeima, the mandate of the 10th Saeima will expire.

Saeima Press Service