“A true democracy cannot be realised without the representation of the people and without the parliament — a place where different people, ideas, beliefs meet. A place, where people may come and go, but fundamental continuity and absolute balance of power are ensured," said the Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns at the ceremonial opening  of the second  supplemented edition of a book by Gunārs Kusiņš “Parliamentarianism in Latvia: An Overview” on Thursday, February 16, in the Saeima.

On Thursday, 16 February, the Saeima in the second reading supported the draft Law on the National Defence Service and the related draft laws, which provide for the establishment of the National Defence Service. The first conscription to the National Defence Service is planned on July 1, this year.

On Thursday, February 16, the Saeima adopted urgent amendments to the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians. They provide for the possibility of transferring the state-owned vehicles free of charge to the Ukrainian government — for general support to Ukrainian society.

On Thursday, February 16, the Saeima supported the government’s decision to extend the state of emergency in the Latvia-Belarusian border area, i.e., the state of emergency in Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava, and Daugavpils is extended until 10 May 2023.

On Thursday, 2 February, the Saeima approved in the final reading urgent amendments that extend the deadline for the dissolution of the free port authorities of Riga and Ventspils.

Latvia and Poland have historical ties, and our security is closely interlinked. Strategic cooperation between Poland and the Baltic States is particularly important in the new geopolitical situation. This was underlined by Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, when he received Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, at the Saeima on Wednesday, 1 February. The President of Poland is in Latvia on an official visit.

Since its establishment 14 years ago, the Saeima Visitor and Information Centre has received almost 26 thousand visitors.

On Friday, 27 January, the Sports Committee of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee condemned the statement by the International Olympic Committee, announcing that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be banned from participating in international competitions and that they should instead be allowed to compete as neutral athletes without representing their country or sports federation.

On Friday, 27 January, while addressing the heads of Latvian diplomatic missions, Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, thanked them for their tremendous contribution in representing Latvian national interests abroad. Foreign affairs have become significantly more important for the public over the last year. We have all felt that the events happening outside Latvian borders impact every single person. This time, however, has also provided the Baltic States, including Latvia, with the opportunity to become a voice that is increasingly heard and that can impact international events more, highlighted Speaker Smiltēns.

“We realise the pressure that Moldova is facing due to Russia’s aggressive foreign policy, and we appreciate Chișinău’s resilience against Russia’s manipulative actions and the ability to continue implementing reforms despite this,” highlighted Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), while addressing her peers in Strasbourg.