The last session of the Spring featured an address by President Edgars Rinkēvičs in which he took a carrot and stick approach, throwing out some praise for things which have been done but also suggesting that a lot remained undone.
"A lot has been done in defense. Clear funding, National Defense Service, construction of the eastern border. Things are happening. But there is a lot to be done and it must be done quickly. However, the sluggish development of the civil defense system and the resolution of many other issues suggest that we have fallen asleep, and that the threat posed by Russia is just a dream that we will forget soon after waking up," he told the assembled deputies.
"Plans and lessons must be in place today. And people want security today. The only way to ensure that neither the Saeima nor the society returns to this issue again and again is to take it up and solve it," he urged.
His call for action came shortly before Saeima deputies decided by 94 votes to 0 that its members will be able to enjoy a long summer vacation until the start of the Autumn session on September 3, which will run until December 20. The autumn session is usually notable for being particularly busy at it is the one that includes debates for the next year's budget.
President Rinkēvičs also said that he wants to see various urgent reforms in the education system.
"Children cannot wait for change. We cannot postpone the solution until it is no longer relevant to them. We must not settle for a teacher shortage. We must not turn a blind eye to bullying in schools. Because this is how we will teach children hopelessness. This must not be allowed," said the head of state,
He promised to return to the theme "in the fall" when the Saeima meets again – a day after the start of the new academic year.
The rules of procedure of the Saeima stipulate that there are two types of sessions of the Saeima: regular and extraordinary. There are three regular sessions per year: autumn, winter and spring sessions. An extraordinary session of the Saeima can be convened between Saeima sessions if it is deemed necessary for particularly important or pressing matters.
