On 23 September, the Saeima will once again participate in Open Door Day and will welcome inhabitants and guests of our country to the main building of the Saeima. They will have a chance to see the architecture of the building and to learn about its history, as well as to find out more about the daily routine of MPs. Students are especially invited to visit the Saeima.
On the tour of the main building, guests of the parliament will have an opportunity to see the Plenary Chamber, where MPs convene on Thursdays for plenary sittings, as well as the Red Room, where meetings of the Presidium, discussions and conferences are held. Furthermore, the visitors will have a chance to glance inside the office of the Speaker and offices of staff members of the Saeima; they may also view the Gift Room, where gifts presented by foreign delegations to the Latvian parliament are on display.
On Open Door Day, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see the representation rooms where meetings with foreign speakers of parliaments, ministers, ambassadors and other high officials take place.
The guests of the parliament will also have an opportunity to watch informative and educational videos, as well as to see photographs reflecting the work of the parliament, including the diplomatic activities of MPs and traditions of the Saeima.
On 21 August, Latvia celebrated the 20th anniversary of the de facto restoration of its independence; therefore, the guests of the main building of the Saeima will also have an opportunity to see historic documents – official letters of recognition from countries which recognised the restoration of independence of Latvia after 21 August 1991.
During the tour of the building, visitors will have a chance to take a quiz and to check their knowledge and attentiveness. Quiz winners will receive surprise gifts.
On 23 September, the main building of the Saeima will be open from 10:00 to 18:00 to people visiting the parliament in groups or individually. Because the main building of the Saeima can accommodate a limited number of visitors at once, preference will be given to visitors who have applied for the visit beforehand by sending their personal data (name, surname, ID number and phone number) by e-mail at info@saeima.lv, and who have received confirmation of their application. People interested in visiting the main building of the Saeima are invited to apply by 21 September. Additional information can be obtained by calling +371 6708 7321.
The main building of the parliament is open on other business days as well, and it can be visited by applying for a guided tour by phone +371 6708 7535 or by sending an application by e-mail at ekskursijas@saeima.lv. Visitors touring the main building of the Saeima on Thursdays have an opportunity to see MPs at work during plenary sittings.
Open Door Day will be held at the Saeima for the fourth time; the number of visitors to the parliament during this day has increased from year to year. In 2008, on Open Door Day approximately 1,500 people visited the Saeima; in 2009, this number exceeded 1,800; and in 2010 it reached 2,000.
Saeima Press Service