Press releases

Āboltiņa at the ceremonial sitting of 18 November: We have to love the Latvia of today for what it is and what it can be
Āboltiņa at the ceremonial sitting of 18 November: We have to love the Latvia of today for what it is and what it can be (18.11.2013.)
“Latvia is a concrete state, and its patriots must act accordingly. We cannot love an abstract former or future Latvia. We have to love the Latvia of today for what it is and what it can be,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 18 November, when addressing the participants of the ceremonial sitting held at the Saeima in honour of the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. 
Address by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, at the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima in honour of the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia (18.11.2013.)
Honourable President of Latvia,Honourable Prime Minister,Honourable Members of the Saeima,Ministers,Excellencies,Ladies and gentlemen,
Speaker of the Saeima greets the American Latvian community on Lāčplēsis Day
Speaker of the Saeima greets the American Latvian community on Lāčplēsis Day (12.11.2013.)
On Sunday, 10 November, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, while on a working visit to the United States of America, attended a church service at the Yonkers Church of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of New York, as well as met with the New York Latvian community and greeted it on Lāčplēsis Day.
Schoolchildren’s photo exhibition My Lāčplēsis Day opened in the Saeima (11.11.2013.)
“November is a special month for Latvia because that is when we celebrate the birthday of our state. This month has another important date, namely, 11 November, or Lāčplēsis Day. Our country was only one year old when it had to undergo a dreadful ordeal because our recently established state of Latvia was close to being taken away from us. It took great heroism to protect our country. Although we were hopelessly outnumbered, people still had faith and were ready to sacrifice the most precious thing they have, namely, their lives.” This was said by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 7 November, as she opened the schoolchildren’s photo exhibition My Lāčplēsis Day in the main building of the Saeima. The exhibition shows Lāčplēsis Day through the eyes of a schoolchild and reveals what this commemorative day means to young people.
The Saeima adopts the state budget for 2014
The Saeima adopts the state budget for 2014 (08.11.2013.)
On Thursday, 7 November, the Saeima adopted in the final reading the Law on the State Budget for 2014, the Law on Medium-Term Budget Framework for 2014–2016 and amendments to 37 budget-related laws.
Āboltiņa: Latvia and Georgia’s good relations stem from intensive political dialogue and active people-to-people contacts
Āboltiņa: Latvia and Georgia’s good relations stem from intensive political dialogue and active people-to-people contacts (06.11.2013.)
“Latvia and Georgia’s good relations stem from intensive political dialogue and active contacts between the people of both countries. As a member state of the European Union and NATO, Latvia has always encouraged Georgia to carry out reforms, and Georgia can continue to rely on our support,” this was stressed by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 4 November, as she met in the main building of the Saeima with David Usupashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.
Saeima restricts issuance of residence permits
Saeima restricts issuance of residence permits (01.11.2013.)
On Thursday, 31 October, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the Immigration Law in order to introduce quotas for issuing residence permits to real estate buyers and prevent foreigners from obtaining residence permits in exchange for purchase of real estate containing agricultural land or forest.
Simplified voting procedure in European Parliament elections to be established for soldiers and national guards stationed abroad
Simplified voting procedure in European Parliament elections to be established for soldiers and national guards stationed abroad (01.11.2013.)
On Thursday, 31 October, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Elections to the European Parliament Law, thus simplifying the voting procedure for soldiers and national guards serving on international missions.
Kalniņa-Lukaševica at COSAC meeting: The EU has high expectations from Eastern Partnership Summit
Kalniņa-Lukaševica at COSAC meeting: The EU has high expectations from Eastern Partnership Summit (30.10.2013.)
During the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Monday, 28 October, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, emphasised that the European Union (EU) member states, including Latvia, have high expectations from the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, and they hope it will be a turning point in the relations between the EU and its eastern neighbours.
Speaker Āboltiņa: The legislature can enhance the understanding of the goal and essence of the state of Latvia in order to strengthen the values laid in its foundation
Speaker Āboltiņa: The legislature can enhance the understanding of the goal and essence of the state of Latvia in order to strengthen the values laid in its foundation (28.10.2013.)
“Although it is not an easy task to guess the legal beliefs and views of the people and to put them down in the form of legal provisions contained in the supreme law, the founding fathers of our Constitution managed to do that successfully. However, the drafters of the Constitution failed to agree upon an expanded and more detailed introduction – or the preamble as we now call it – to this law.” This was pointed out by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, at the opening of the conference on Reflection of the Foundation of the Latvian State in the Expanded Preamble of the Constitution – Concept and Tentative Content held on 25 October in the University of Latvia.
Sestdien, 23.novembrī