On Thursday, 11 February, the Saeima held an extraordinary plenary sitting, during which it approved the new Cabinet of Ministers lead by Māris Kučinskis with 60 votes for and 32 votes against. 

On Thursday, 11 February, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Energy Law setting out the principles for opening the natural gas market to all sellers and providing households with the right to freely choose their gas supplier. The amendments also stipulate how the final phase of reforming the natural gas market is to be implemented.

On Thursday, 11 February, the political parties represented in the 12th Saeima of the Republic of Latvia and the Cabinet of Ministers – the Union of Greens and Farmers, Unity, and the National Alliance “All for Latvia! – For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK” – will officially sign the cooperation agreement and the Declaration on the Intended Activities of the Government lead by Māris Kučinskis.

On Tuesday, 2 February, in Kiev Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, met with Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, and stated that “the Baltic and Nordic countries have always strongly supported Ukraine and will continue to do so in future. This commitment is demonstrated by the joint visit to Kiev of the highest-ranking officials of the parliaments of the Baltic and Nordic countries. Occupation of foreign territory, oppression of the population, persecution and false imprisonment are unacceptable in the 21st century. The speakers of the parliaments of the Baltic and Nordic countries strictly abide by their position that the West must continue the sanctions introduced against Russia.”

On Friday, 29 January, the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima issued a statement regarding the gas pipeline project Nord Stream II. The statement says: “The Nord Stream II project will not serve to promote solidarity and good neighbourly relationships among EU member states, nor will it help diversify energy supply sources and routes. This project contradicts the external dimension of the common energy policy of the EU and will damage the Neighbourhood Policy of the Union, which, in turn, will weaken the EU as a whole.”

On Thursday, 28 January, the Saeima adopted a declaration on protection of under-aged Latvian nationals abroad. The declaration calls upon competent authorities in other countries to respect Latvia’s obligation to protect the rights of Latvian nationals abroad and to immediately notify the diplomatic or consular missions of Latvia about all cases when a guardian needs to be appointed to protect the interests of a child.

On Tuesday, 26 January, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, addressed the participants of the annual parliamentary foreign affairs debate. She emphasised the importance of strengthening Latvia’s security, which includes ensuring long-term presence of NATO forces in the region, a strong and vigilant European Union, as well as economic security of Latvia. “Latvia’s security depends on a strong European and Transatlantic community,” said the Speaker.

On Monday, 25 January, Lolita Čigāne, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, addressed the chairs of the European affairs committees of the Baltic and Polish parliaments, who met in Vilnius, Lithuania, emphasising that “Georgia and Ukraine continue to implement reforms, thus demonstrating their commitment to pursue deeper integration in the European Union. We must promote Georgia’s and Ukraine’s European integration based on their progress, as well as support their sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders”.    

On Thursday, 21 January, the Saeima adopted in the final reading the Law on the Sale of Energy Drinks, which imposes a ban on the sale of energy drinks to individuals under the age of 18. The prohibition to sell energy drinks to minors will come into effect as of 1 June. The law was adopted with 88 votes for, two votes against and one abstention.