Latvian State President Egils Levits - a former judge - has decided to pardon one person who had made an application to his office for presidential clemency, and rejected 14 other applicants, a release from the presidential chancellery said March 10.
During a recent visit to France, reported at the time by LSM, Latvian President Egils Levits stopped off at the studios of the France24 television news channel and gave a wide-ranging English-language interview, which you can watch above.
All three declared presidential candidates - European Court of Justice Judge Egils Levits, Chief Ombudsman Juris Jansons and MP Didzis Šmits (KPV LV party) – meet the legislative requirements and may run for the position, said Saeima mandates, ethics and submissions committee chairwoman Janina-Kursite Pakule (National Alliance) May 22.
A number of intellectuals and public figures have turned to the parliament to support the presidential candidacy of Egilts Levits, a judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union.
On September 6 the Latvian parliament supported amendments to the Latvian constitution that would introduce an open presidential vote, reported LSM's Latvian-language service.
The Saeima Legal Affairs Committee on November 29 supported a public initiative over electing the Latvian president in an open vote, reported Latvian Radio.
The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) political party on July 10 rejected a proposal by the Unity party to have the Latvian president elected in an open vote in the parliament, Edvards Smiltens, the deputy chairman of the Unity, told the press after the meeting of the ruling coalition parties.
Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis has been surprised by the turnabout of the political parties regarding his suggestion to change the presidential election procedure, replacing a parliamentary vote with a popular public vote, reported LETA.
It's time to stop making children born in Latvia non-citizens, said Latvia's President Raimonds Vējonis on May 6 at a Latgale Congress event in Daugavpils. He called for non-citizens to naturalize as well, reported Latvian Radio.
Two months after the new government under Prime Minister Maris Kucinsis was formed, President Vejonis on Wednesday said it would be good if it had some sort of plan.
On March 30 Latvia's president Raimonds Vējonis will be resuming his presidential duties in full, three months after undergoing heart surgery, reported LSM Wednesday.
President Raimonds Vējonis, who underwent major heart surgery a month ago, is to leave hospital this weekend and continue his rehabilitation at the Vaivari rahabilitation center, the presidential press office announced Thursday.
On July 9, President Raimonds Vējonis went to a state visit to the President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves upon taking office as president. The visit was held in a friendly atmosphere and the two heads of state exchanged views about the Ukrainian crisis, economic cooperation and defense, Latvian Television reported.
The election by the Latvian parliament or Saeima on Wednesday of Raimonds Vejonis, 48, as President sees Latvia provide the European Union with its first green President – in name at least.
With Latvia due to choose its next president in the coming few weeks, another name officially entered the fray Monday, the first day on which contenders could be officially registered.