Press releases

Title of Future Politician Awarded
On 25 April, during the main event of the 4th Youth Parliament, the young people who were particularly active in sectoral committees and who took the initiative in discussions on draft declarations of the Youth Parliament were awarded the title of Future Politician. 
Speaker Āboltiņa meets with Estonian Prime Minister at the Saeima
On Friday, 25 April, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, for the first time welcomed Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia, to the Saeima and noted that “good relations between Latvia and Estonia are based on successful interparliamentary cooperation on the bilateral, Baltic, and EU level, as well as within the framework of Nordic-Baltic cooperation. The fact that traditionally Latvia’s, Estonia’s and Lithuania’s highest public officials pay their first foreign visit to the closest neighbouring countries also attests to the friendship among the Baltic States.”
Participation in national referendums to be simplified for soldiers and national guards stationed abroad
On Thursday, 10 April, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on National Referendums, Initiation of Laws and European Citizens’ Initiative, thus simplifying the participation of soldiers and national guards serving on international missions in national referendums, as well as signature collection for initiation of a national referendum or a law. The voting procedure in the Saeima and the European Parliament elections has already been simplified. 
Speaker of the Saeima emphasises in Vilnius conference the role of national parliaments in supporting Eastern Partnership countries
“We, representatives of the European Union national parliaments, have to support the democratisation efforts of Eastern Partnership countries and share our experience with our colleagues. For the European Union to be strong, safe and secure, we have to recognise how important all our neighbours are, whether they are to the south or the east,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 7 April, at the Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union held in Vilnius, Lithuania. 
Latvia will host NATO PA Standing Committee meeting
From 4 till 6 April, Latvia will host a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The meeting will bring together the heads of national parliamentary delegations of NATO member states to discuss, among other issues, strengthening ties between national parliaments and NATO.
Saeima establishes criminal liability for failure to comply with the provisional ban on new psychoactive substances
On Thursday, 3 April, the Saeima in two readings adopted urgent amendments to the Criminal Law. The amendments elaborated by the Legal Affairs Committee of the Saeima provide for criminal liability for failure to comply with the provisional prohibition to sell the so-called legal drugs. 
Āboltiņa to the Speaker of the Georgian parliament: Latvia supports early signing of the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia
On Monday, 31 March, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her official visit to Georgia, met with David Usupashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, and emphasised that Latvia supports the signing of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia as early as possible in 2014 because it would clearly signal the determination of both sides to deepen their relations on the basis of European and democratic values.
Speaker of the Saeima: Joint postage stamp of Latvia and Georgia attests to friendship between our nations
On Friday, 28 March, during the first-day cancellation ceremony for postage stamps dedicated to the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Georgia held at the main building of the Saeima, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, said that this postage stamp attests to friendship and good relations between our nations.
On Thursday, 27 March, the Saeima adopted in the second reading the Draft Law on the Amendments to the Criminal Law, which provides that persons who publicly deny, vindicate, glorify, or grossly trivialise the aggression by the USSR and Nazi Germany against the Republic of Latvia can be held criminally liable.
Svētdien, 5.maijā