On behalf of the Latvian parliament, Speaker Solvita Āboltiņa has sent a letter to Max Sisulu, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa, expressing condolences on the passing of Nelson Mandela.

On Thursday, 5 December, the Saeima in the final reading supported amendments to the Immigration Law that introduce changes in conditions regarding issuance of temporary residence permits for foreigners who invest money in Latvian companies.

On Thursday, 5 December, the Saeima adopted in the third and final reading amendments to the Law on Ensuring Activity of the President of Latvia, which envisage changes in the amount of social benefits provided to former Presidents of Latvia.

On Tuesday, 3 December, the Saeima’s hockey team lost 5-6 to the State Police team in a tense and dynamic friendly match.

On Friday, 29 November, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, in her opening address to the 32nd Session of the Baltic Assembly held at the Saeima, stressed that members of parliament of the Baltic States have initiated and implemented several regionally significant initiatives; however they face numerous challenges, including urgent issue of energy isolation which has to be solved. Likewise, the Baltic States have to overcome their internal disagreements and arrive at a conclusion regarding implementation of the Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica project because this project is important not only from an economic but also from a geopolitical perspective.  

On Friday, 29 November, Raimonds Vējonis, President of the Baltic Assembly addressed the participants of the 32nd Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 19th Baltic Council, pointing out that the success of the three Baltic States depends on closer cooperation between the parliaments and the executive power, streamlining of the decision-making procedures and joint strategies for issues that cannot be efficiently solved individually.

On Friday, 29 November, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, hosted a meeting with Ene Ergma, Speaker of the Estonian parliament, and Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, and invited them to the grand opening of the European Capital of Culture on 17 January 2014, when Richard Wagner’s opera Rienzi will be staged in the Latvian National Opera as a part of the opening of “Riga 2014”. 

On Thursday, 28 November, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, who visited the Saeima during her working visit to Latvia, where she is participating in the 32nd Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 19th Baltic Council. This is the first visit of the Speaker of the Seimas to Latvia and to the Saeima.

Events of the 32nd Session of the Baltic Assembly will be held on 28–29 November in Riga, giving a chance for the Baltic parliamentarians to address strengthening of cooperation in areas such as tourism, combating of organised crime, research and innovation, as well as establishment of a digital single market. During the Session, the Baltic Assembly will also award its prizes for literature, the arts and science, as well as medals for strengthening the unity of the Baltic States.