On Thursday, 13 December, the Saeima in the first reading supported in principle the Draft Law on the Introduction of the Euro, which sets forth general principles for the introduction of the common currency of the European Union – the euro – in Latvia. The Saeima deemed the Draft Law as urgent, and it is planned to be adopted in the final reading on 31 January of next year.

“It is important to strengthen Baltic unity because it is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago,” pointed out Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 12 December, during her meeting with Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, who is on his official visit to Latvia.

On Thursday, 29 November, the Saeima adopted in the final reading a new Law on Election Campaigning which incorporates procedures that until now were set forth in several different laws; the new Law also establishes the procedure for campaigning before the Saeima, the European Parliament and local government elections and supervision thereof.

On Thursday, 29 November, the Saeima in the third and final reading adopted extensive amendments to the Civil Law and related laws, thereby establishing new provisions  on legal capacity that conform to international law and preventing non-compliance of the Civil Law with the Constitution and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

On Thursday, 29 November, the Saeima in the third and final reading adopted amendments to the Road Traffic Law which envisage that the new vehicles will have to undergo their first technical inspection within two years after their registration.

“Since the renewal of independence and restoration of democracy, mutual support and solidarity have characterised the relations between Latvia and Poland. We have stood shoulder to shoulder in our attempts to regain our rightful place in the European and transatlantic family of nations,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 23 November, during her meeting with Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland, who visited the Saeima during his state visit to Latvia.

“This is the moment when we – the Baltic States – have to be - and I proudly declare that we are - united in our position, namely, the need to jointly prevent continuation of the unfair EU policy concerning direct payments to farmers”, stressed Raimonds Vējonis, Head of the Latvian delegation to the Baltic Assembly.

On Tuesday, 20 November, the Public Administration and Local Government Committee of the Saeima approved amendments to the Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties) to be considered in the final reading. They set forth that a political organisation (party) member’s total contributions in the form of admission fees, membership fees and gifts (donations) to one political organisation (party) may not exceed 50 minimum monthly salaries over a calendar year instead of the current limitation of 100 salaries.

During these days in November we celebrate the 94th anniversary of the independent Latvia. Born in our dreams, founded, cherished deep within our hearts, renewed and free – this is our Latvia.