Following a lengthy debate, Saeima voted by 43 votes to 31 to reject the Compact after being given the effective decision-making power by the caretaker cabinet. The resolution, framed by the National Alliance, was an invitation to reject the Compact, so that those voting "For" the resolution were voting against adoption.
The vote count saw the National Alliance teaming up with the New Conservative Party and KPV LV lawmakers along with a scattering of Greens and Farmers Union deputies, while the Harmony, New Unity and For Development/For! deputies voted against the resolution. A further 9 deputies didn't bother to vote.
The move puts Latvia in a different position to those of Estonia and Lithuania, both of which have decided to support the compact, a UN declaration that has no legal force. Meanwhile the US, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Switzerland have all objected to the document.
The Saeima vote itself is advisory, but the cabinet has indicated that it will follow the direction given to it by lawmakers.
As previously reported by LSM, the signing of the Compact has become a hot topic in recent weeks with both sides expressing their views on the matter and various public figures joining the debate.
