Press releases
On Friday, 14 October, the Joint Judging Committee convened in the Saeima to evaluate nominees for the Baltic Assembly Prizes, and it decided to award the Prize for the Arts to Andris Nelsons, a conductor; the Prize for Literature to Arvydas Juozaitis, a philosopher and writer; and the Prize for Science to Andres Ilmar Kasekamp.
On Monday, 17 October, the 11th Saeima will hold its first sitting. It will begin at 9:00 a.m.
The 10th convocation of the Saeima can be characterised by active work on foreign policy matters – it organised the first parliamentary foreign policy debate, established even closer ties with parliamentarians of other Baltic States and Nordic Countries, and on the European level it lobbied matters essential to our state regarding Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy, indicates Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima.
On Thursday, 13 October, in the final reading, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law on Forests drafted by its Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee. The amendments improve forest management and reduce the bureaucracy in this sector.
On Thursday, 13 October, the Saeima adopted in the final reading and through an expedited procedure the Law on Defence and Security Procurements, which is intended to provide an efficient procurement procedure in the defence and security sectors.
The first sitting of the 11th Saeima will be held on Monday, 17 October. The date was set by the Central Election Commission pursuant to the Saeima Election Law. With the first sitting of the 11th Saeima, the mandate of the 10th Saeima will expire.
The Central Election Commission has announced the final results of the extraordinary general election. Concord Centre has received 31 seats, Zatlers’ Reform Party 22 seats, Unity 20 seats. All for Latvia and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK will be represented by 14 MPs, and Union of Greens and Farmers by 13 MPs.
Upon the initiative of the members of the Saeima, an appeal to demonstrate solidarity in drafting the EU's new multiannual financial framework was included in the Contribution and Conclusions of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC).
On Friday, 23 September, a total of 2,038 persons had a chance to visit the Saeima on Open Door Day. Majority of visitors were students from schools in Riga and all regions of Latvia.
On Thursday, 22 September, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on Personal Income Tax, thus changing taxation of persons who receive remuneration for working abroad.
