For the third year, within the framework of the International Parliamentary Scholarship programme, two students from Germany are doing an internship at the Saeima. Until 27 September, the youths will have an opportunity to get acquainted with the work of the members of parliament, parliamentary groups and committees. They will also attend lectures at the University of Latvia.

The scholarship holders were chosen in a special competition, and internships at the parliament were awarded to students who are interested in our country and have some preliminary knowledge about it. Melanie Frank has a bachelor’s degree in European studies, and currently she is studying political science in the master’s programme. During the internship Melanie wants to broaden her knowledge of the parliament’s cooperation with non-governmental organisations. Sebastian Reiter is studying political science and European Union studies in the master’s programme. He wants to broaden his knowledge in areas such as the role of national parliaments in the European Union and in foreign affairs.

Members of the Saeima Inese Lībiņa-Egnere (Reform Party), Viktors Valainis (unaffiliated MP), Atis Lejiņš (Unity), Ina Druviete (Unity), Lolita Čigāne (Unity) and Edvards Smiltēns (Unity) will acquaint the students with the everyday work of the parliamentary groups and committees of the Saeima. The students will meet with Speaker Solvita Āboltiņa. During the internship, they will also attend lectures at the University of Latvia.

Rihards Vitenbergs and Laila Moreina, who are interns from Ventspils University College, will assist as Latvian–German interpreters.

The Bundestag has been conducting the International Parliamentary Scholarship programme (Internationales Parlaments-Stipendium) since 1986, and Latvian students have been able to participate in internships at the German parliament since 1992.


Saeima Press Service