One hundred years ago, on 7 November 1922, at 12:00, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia convened for its first sitting at the building in Jēkaba iela. With the convening of the 1st Saeima, Satversme–the fundamental law of the state of Latvia–came into force. In honour of these events, on Monday, 7 November, at 12:00, the 14th Saeima will convene for a ceremonial sitting, at which Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, will deliver a speech.
On this day, the former Speakers of the Saeima–Anatolijs Gorbunovs, Ilga Kreituse, Alfreds Čepānis, Jānis Straume, Ingrīda Latimira (formerly Ūdre), Indulis Emsis, Gundars Daudze, Solvita Āboltiņa, and Ināra Mūrniece–are invited to the Parliament. Also invited to the Parliament are the country's highest officials, the President of the 4 May Declaration Club Velta Čebotarenoka and other former members of the Supreme Council, as well as representatives of foreign diplomatic corps.
Before the sitting, at 10:30, Members of Parliament will gather for a ceremonial event "Latvian Parliamentarism in the Centenary of the Saeima." It will be opened by Speaker Edvards Smiltēns. The event will include presentations and expert discussion, chaired by Gunārs Kusiņš, Justice of the Constitutional Court and former Head of the Saeima Legal Bureau. The lecture on the rights and duties of members of the Saeima as representatives of the people will be given by Jānis Pleps, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia. Edvīns Danovskis, Senior Legal Adviser of the Saeima Legal Bureau, will speak about the main principles of legislation and legal innovation, while Justice Gunārs Kusiņš will outline the formation and development of parliamentary culture and traditions.
On the centenary day, a unique historical testimony–the original Saeima Presidium Chair from the inter-war period– will be exhibited in the Voting Room of the Saeima.
At 14:00, members of the Presidium of the Saeima and MPs will take part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument of Freedom.
Both the 7 November plenary sitting and the ceremonial event will be broadcast live on the Saeima website www.saeima.lv and on the Parliament's Facebook account.
Media opportunities
10.30 – 11.30
Ceremonial event "Latvian Parliamentarism in the Centenary of the Saeima"
Red Room, Jēkaba ielā 11
12.00
Ceremonial plenary sitting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the convening of the 1st Saeima of the Republic of Latvia and the entry into force of the Constitution
Plenary Chamber, Jēkaba ielā 11
14.00
Flower-laying ceremony at the Monument of Freedom
Media gathering in the square in front of the Monument of Freedom
Media representatives arrive 15 minutes before the start of each event.
Please dress business casual when arriving at the events.
Media representatives who do not have permanent accreditation to work in the Saeima are kindly requested to register in advance for the coverage of the events by e-mail prese@saeima.lv or by phone +371 67087244.
Saeima Press Service