The developers of the social network Facebook need to engage in a regular dialogue and cooperation with national governments and lawmakers to prevent online disinformation and political campaign financing violations, while also protecting user data. Such steps will minimise growing global concerns about Facebook being used as a tool for election-rigging. These are some of the issues underlined by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Chairperson of the Saeima National Security Committee, in a speech before the International Grand Committee on Disinformation and Fake News meeting in London.

On Wednesday, 28 November, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima adopted a statement on Russia’s acts of aggression against Ukraine in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, strongly condemning Russia’s aggressive and provocative conduct. i.e., blocking, ramming and capturing Ukrainian navy ships and crew members, thus violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fundamental principles of international law.

“The people’s dream of an independent Latvia, the politicians’ ability to work together for a higher ideal and parliamentary democracy – these were the cornerstones of the newly-founded state. Today we can only marvel at how politically mature and modern the state of Latvia was upon its birth. Our nation has gone through a lot over the past century, but this path has always led us towards the three stars. Our land, our language and our state,” underlined Speaker Ināra Mūrniece during her address for the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima in honour of the 100th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia at the National Theatre of Latvia.

On Tuesday, 6 November, the new convocation of the parliament elected the Presidium of the 13th Saeima.

On Tuesday, 6 November, the members of the 13th Saeima elected Ināra Mūrniece as their Speaker.

On Thursday, 1 November, in the second and final reading the Saeima supported a draft law ratifying the Agreement between the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania regarding the automatic recognition of academic qualifications concerning higher education.

On Thursday, 1 November, the Saeima supported in the final reading the adoption of a new Diaspora Law to strengthen the diaspora’s ties with Latvia, rendering it an inseparable part of Latvia’s society, providing the diaspora with opportunities to freely maintain, create and expand its ties with Latvia, promoting the maintenance of Latvian language proficiency, culture and sense of belonging to Latvia, and promoting remigration.

On Thursday, 1 November, the Saeima adopted in the final reading a law on organising a receipt lottery. The lottery, which aims to urge people to ask for receipts or tickets for the products or services they purchase, is one of the measures to combat shadow economy.

On Thursday, 11 October, the Saeima adopted the Whistleblower Protection Law.