On Thursday, 12 December, the Saeima approved Mārtiņš Kazāks as the new Governor of the Bank of Latvia.

We firmly support Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration and strongly encourage the implementation of democratic reforms. Ukrainian people have demonstrated their readiness to pay the ultimate price for the freedom, democracy and sovereignty of their country. The rule of law and combating corruption ­­are areas where progress is needed in order to attract foreign direct investment to Ukraine and promote the welfare of the people, stated Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her opening address at the international conference “Ukraine’s reforms and European path” on Friday, 6 December.

On Friday, 29 November, at the conclusion of the 38th Session of the Baltic Assembly (BA) hosted in Riga, parliamentarians from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania defined cooperation priorities for 2020. Baltic partnership in defence and security was highlighted as the first priority, followed by the development of energy and transport connections, and regional research and education networks.

“At the time of the Baltic Way 30 years ago, the unity of our countries was emotional, whereas today it is much more practical. Today it means the ability to combine efforts in the name of important objectives, find solutions where there is a risk of conflict and diversity of opinion, and to act in concert in order to implement joint initiatives and projects,” said Jānis Vucāns, President of the Baltic Assembly (BA) on Friday, 29 November, urging Latvian, Estonian, and Lithuanian MPs to search for solutions to future challenges together.

“The Baltic States can take pride in the accomplishments they have achieved during the years of independence. Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are well organised, ecologically clean and innovative North European countries with a great potential for development. Democracy and security are the foundations of our growth,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in her opening address at the 38th Session of the Baltic Assembly (BA), on Friday, 29 November. 

On Thursday, 28 November, conductor Normunds Šnē received the Baltic Assembly (BA) Prize for the Arts. In the award ceremony at the Small Guild in Riga, the Latvian conductor was awarded the prize for his performance at the concert in honour of the centenary of the Baltic States with the Chamber Orchestra “Sinfonietta Rīga” and Tallinn Chamber orchestra — event that took place at the Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm last year.

According to the amendments to the Law on the Bank of Latvia adopted in the final reading on Thursday, 21 November, the term of office of the Governor of the Bank of Latvia henceforth will be reduced from six to five years.

“It is statehood that will uphold Latvia. Our nation can only thrive if our state thrives,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 18 November, at the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima in honour of the 101st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.