On Thursday, 24 March, the Saeima supported in the second and final reading the urgent Draft Law that replaces the Law on Temporary Additional Requirements for the Work of Members of the Saeima and Councillors of Local Government Councils on 1 April.
Press releases
“The people of Ukraine are sacrificing lives for their freedom and ours. They are fighting for the right to sovereignty and self‑determination, which, in our view, is the foundation of freedom. We stand up for Ukraine, because Ukraine is standing up for us,” emphasised Inese Voika, Deputy Secretary of the Saeima, on Monday, 21 March, in Vilnius, referring to the statement on the need to improve Ukraine’s air defence. The statement was adopted today in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, at a conference dedicated to promoting the support of European Union and NATO politicians for the opposition in Belarus.
"The institutions of the European Union should be able to find a way to quickly respond to Ukraine’s request to accept it as a member state. The European Union is not only an institution, but also its citizens. We, the parliamentarians from the EU member states, represent the will of our voters. Ukraine must be in the European Union! Our state and our people society stand up for it,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, opening the conference ”Baltic EU Conversations 2022: Immediate Challenges and Long-term Vision".
Rihards Kols to US Helsinki Commission: Western countries must be aware of Russia’s hybrid threats (18.03.2022.)
Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, addressing the United States (US) Commission on Security and Co-operation in Europe (US Helsinki Commission) at a special hearing, urged the Western countries to be aware of the hybrid threats posed by Russia. During the joint visit of the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic Parliaments, the Baltic MPs informed the US Helsinki Commission about the current security challenges in the Baltics.
Saeima adopts statement on no-fly zone over Ukraine and measures to limit Russia’s aggression (17.03.2022.)
On Thursday, 17 March, the Saeima unanimously adopted a statement on establishing a no‑fly zone over the territory of Ukraine and measures to limit Russia’s aggression, taking into consideration the resolution of the President of Ukraine calling to establish a no‑fly zone over the airspace of Ukraine.
Saeima enables patients’ authorised persons to decide on consent regarding medical treatment (17.03.2022.)
On Thursday, 17 March the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law on the Rights of Patients, which provide that in the event the patient is unable to take a decision on medical treatment due to his or her state of health or age, the right to take a decision on consent to treatment or to refuse it will primarily granted to the patient’s authorised person.
Saeima adopts Local Government Referendum Law (17.03.2022.)
On Thursday, 17 March, the Saeima in the final reading adopted the Local Government Referendum Law. It determines the procedure for the initiation and conduct of municipal referenda.
Saeima extends participation of Latvian troops in international coalition military operation “Inherent Resolve” (17.03.2022.)
On Thursday, 17 March, the Saeima decided to extend the term of participation of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) troops in the international coalition military operation “Inherent Resolve” directed against terrorist organisation ISIL/Daesh until 1 February 2024.
Reiterating the condemnation of the unjust and brutal military attack on Ukraine, a decision was made to suspend Russia from the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC). The Heads of the Delegations to the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) have adopted a Declaration on the suspension of the Russian parliament from the Annual Conference, the meetings of working bodies, and BSPC projects.
The Baltic Assembly (BA) supports granting an official EU candidate status to Ukraine and full membership in the Union in the future, according to a Statement adopted by the BA on Thursday, 10 March.