https://eng.lsm.lv/ eng.lsm.lv en https://eng.lsm.lv//assets/logo/lsm_hi.png https://eng.lsm.lv/ https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/19.06.2026-russian-belarusian-investors-opportunities-to-live-in-latvia-restricted.a652156/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:51:00 GMT 652156 On Thursday, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Immigration Law in its final reading, which would prevent citizens of Russia and Belarus from obtaining temporary residence permits through the investment program for alternative investment fund managers. LETA reports. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/18.06.2026-final-latvian-parliamentary-sitting-before-summer-recess-on-thursday.a651530/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:33:35 GMT 651530 On Thursday, June 18, the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has its final sitting before summer recess. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.06.2026-saeima-deputies-expenses-have-cost-more-than-a-million-euros.a651395/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:30:58 GMT 651395 Members of Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, can receive substantial compensation for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in addition to their wages, reports Latvian Television. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/12.06.2026-latvian-saeima-nays-banning-cage-raised-chickens.a651191/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:42:00 GMT 651191 On Thursday, June 11, the Saeima rejected in the first reading the proposed amendments to the Animal Protection Law, which would have banned the keeping of laying hens in cages with a transition period until 2032. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/11.06.2026-latvias-insolvency-service-is-itself-liquidated.a651126/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:27:26 GMT 651126 On Thursday, June 11, Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, adopted amendments to the Insolvency Law and related laws in the final reading, which liquidate the Insolvency Control Service and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Justice, the Court Administration and the Latvian Association of Insolvency Administrators. From now on, the Ministry of Justice will have to supervise insolvency administrators. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/11.06.2026-former-pm-and-ministers-resume-their-saeima-seats.a651039/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:36:43 GMT 651039 On Thursday, June 11, the parliamentary seats of former Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) and two former ministers were reinstated.  https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/04.06.2026-baltic-parliamentarians-will-enjoy-friday-in-liepaja.a650147/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:58:03 GMT 650147 On Friday, June 5th, at a joint meeting of the Baltic Assembly (BA) Committees on Natural Resources and Environment and on Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, parliamentarians from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania will seek solutions for a more comprehensive harmonisation of climate and health policies in the Baltic States, as well as discuss the implementation of joint measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on human health. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/04.06.2026-saeima-seat-switcheroo-as-new-government-starts-work.a650074/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:34:30 GMT 650074 With the confirmation of the government led by Andris Kulbergs (United List), the composition of the 14th Saeima is also changing – several former ministers have returned to work in parliament, and some new members fill the seats of those who have become ministers. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/29.05.2026-speak-up-saeimas-quietest-deputies-revealed.a649295/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 29 May 2026 10:40:00 GMT 649295 Saeima debates are the most visible elements parts of parliamentary work, but how important are they in reality? Some members of the Latvian parliament take the podium hundreds of times during a four-year parliamentary mandate, while others don't bother to speak at all, despite the fact that there are only 100 deputies in total. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/21.05.2026-four-saeima-deputies-are-standing-on-the-naughty-step.a648184/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 21 May 2026 14:23:59 GMT 648184 Several politicians who might have thought about campaigning in the upcoming elections on a tough law and order ticket might have to redraw their plans after falling foul of the law themselves. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/21.05.2026-saeima-commission-wants-quota-for-number-of-third-country-nationals-allowed-into-latvia.a648136/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 21 May 2026 09:40:00 GMT 648136 The Saeima 'Parliamentary Inquiry Commission on Problems in National and European Union-Level Immigration Regulation and the Work of Executive Bodies' said on May 20th it has adopted a final report, which will be forwarded for consideration by the wider Saeima session. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/18.05.2026-latvian-pm-nominee-enthusiastic-about-use-of-ai-in-parliament.a647479/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 18 May 2026 07:48:00 GMT 647479 The Saeima will host a seminar on Monday, May 18, titled "Artificial Intelligence in the Everyday Life of a Member of Parliament: From Opportunity to Necessity," which will feature technology experts, representatives from the public administration and security sectors, as well as politicians who are already using artificial intelligence in their work. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/15.05.2026-public-procurement-procedure-to-be-switched-up-in-latvia.a647228/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 15 May 2026 05:25:38 GMT 647228 A comprehensive and long-awaited reform will be implemented in the public procurement system, which is expected to save at least 2–4% of public procurement expenditures. This is provided for in the amendments to the Public Procurement Law, which were adopted by the Saeima in their final reading on Thursday, May 14, LSM.lv reported. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.05.2026-youth-without-education-will-be-permitted-to-work-at-election-precincts.a647164/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 14 May 2026 13:37:29 GMT 647164 In the future, young adults who have reached legal age but do not have a secondary education will also be eligible to serve as members of municipal election commissions, the Saeima decided on Thursday, May 14. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.05.2026-krauze-takes-saeima-seat-again-pushes-zemmers-out.a647139/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 14 May 2026 12:14:00 GMT 647139 Didzis Zemmers will lose his seat in the Saeima, as the former Minister of Agriculture, Armands Krauze (Union of Greens and Farmers), whom the prime minister dismissed from office on Thursday, May 14, returns to parliament, the ZZS confirmed to the LETA news agency. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.05.2026-former-minister-spruds-returns-to-his-saeima-seat.a647106/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 14 May 2026 09:26:56 GMT 647106 Andris Sprūds (Progressives), the former Minister of Defence, resumed his seat in the Saeima on May 14. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/05.05.2026-watch-saeima-strategic-communications-conference-draws-on-ukrainian-expertise.a645427/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 05 May 2026 07:31:00 GMT 645427 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, will host a conference on Friday, May 8th, titled "Comprehensive Defence Concept: Strategic Communication for Societal Resilience", in which Ukrainian army and strategic communication experts will share their experience on the importance of strategic communication in strengthening societal resilience, and MPs and experts from Latvia will discuss the lessons from Ukraine for Latvia. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/30.04.2026-saeima-moves-forward-weapons-ban-for-dual-russian-belarusian-citizens.a645254/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:27:28 GMT 645254 On Thursday, April 30, the Saeima approved in the first reading amendments to the Weapons Law drafted by the opposition National Alliance, which would prohibit the issuance of firearms permits to Latvian citizens who are also citizens of Russia or Belarus, as well as to create a legal basis for revoking permits that have already been issued. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/23.04.2026-reform-of-latvias-insolvency-laws-moves-closer-to-completion.a644247/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:18:00 GMT 644247 On Thursday, April 23rd, Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, supported amendments to the Insolvency Law and related laws, which provide for the liquidation of the Insolvency Control Service and the transfer of its functions to the Ministry of Justice, the Court Administration and the Latvian Association of Insolvency Administrators. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/21.04.2026-saeima-delegation-visits-canada.a643829/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:52:05 GMT 643829 Five members of Latvia's 100-member parliament, the Saeima, have been on a visit to Canada. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/20.04.2026-saeima-will-ponder-questions-of-ethics-during-tuesday-conference.a643734/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:08:00 GMT 643734 On Tuesday, April 21st, Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, will turn a touch Aristotelian and host a conference titled “Ethics in Modern Parliamentarism”, where legislators, representatives of academia and civil society, as well as foreign experts, will discuss the challenges of parliamentary ethics in modern democracy, paying special attention to the experience of the Baltic States. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/16.04.2026-saeima-backs-eur-30-million-loan-to-airbaltic.a643241/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:10:00 GMT 643241 At its session on Thursday, April 16, following intense debate, the Saeima agreed to grant a 30-million-euro short-term loan from the state budget to the national airline "airBaltic". The government had previously supported the measure, and today it was also approved by the Saeima's Budget Committee. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.04.2026-13th-youth-saeima-convenes-at-latvian-parliament.a642784/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:34:39 GMT 642784 On Monday, April 13th, 100 young people from all over Latvia stepped into the shoes of Saeima deputies for a day. The 13th Youth Saeima convened in Parliament – they elected the parliamentary praesidium, and then went to work in four different Saeima committees, Latvian Television reports. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/13.04.2026-slam-dunk-for-saeima-deputies-over-baltic-colleagues.a642614/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:08:43 GMT 642614 Latvian parliamentarians may not always be skilled in the debating chamber but they proved themselves skilled on the basketball court on April 11th, winning first place in the Baltic Assembly Travelling Cup, defeating the Lithuanian Seimas and Estonian Rīgikogu teams. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/10.04.2026-watch-saeima-hosts-conference-on-future-of-european-security.a642244/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:24:00 GMT 642244 To seek answers to the challenges of the European Union's future security, unity and global influence in a rapidly changing world order, an international conference titled "EU Negotiations 2026: Protecting the Future" will be held in the Saeima on Friday, April 10. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/26.03.2026-saeima-sets-latvias-defence-spending-at-minimum-5-of-gdp-from-2027.a640514/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:01:02 GMT 640514 On Thursday, March 26th, the Saeima supported amendments to the National Defence Financing Law in its final reading, which mean national defence spending must be equivalent to at least 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) every year from next year. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/19.03.2026-saeima-to-consider-grooming-risk-limiting-rules.a639575/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:51:32 GMT 639575 On Thursday, the Saeima referred to the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee for review amendments to the Child Protection Law prepared by the Progressives parliamentary faction, which would prohibit adults in positions of authority from engaging in intimate relationships with young people aged 16 to 18. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/13.03.2026-latvian-estonian-parliamentarians-meet-in-parnu.a638746/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:41:09 GMT 638746 Members of the Parliaments of Estonia and Latvia are discussing cross-border connections in Pärnu, Estonia on March 13th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/12.03.2026-prime-minister-silina-presents-her-annual-report-to-a-seething-saeima.a638500/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:30:37 GMT 638500 Prime Minister Evika Siliņa delivered her review of her government's achievements during the last year to the Saeima on March 12th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/05.03.2026-women-still-under-represented-in-european-politics-despite-improving-trend.a636920/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:16:54 GMT 636920 In 2025, women held 33.6% of the seats in national parliaments across the EU, marking a 5.4 percentage points (pp) increase compared with 2015. Latvia fared slightly worse than this at 31% – despite famously having more women than men than anywhere else, as a proportion of the population.  https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/05.03.2026-saeima-rejects-proposal-to-change-second-pillar-pension-rules.a637487/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:57:32 GMT 637487 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, decided on March 5th not to back proposals to change the rules on second-pillar pension savings. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/02.03.2026-saeima-deputies-fall-foul-of-the-law-with-traffic-violations-and-a-weapons-offence.a636938/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:44:00 GMT 636938 There may be only 100 members of the Latvian parliament, but that didn't stop nearly a tenth of them falling foul of either the law or the Saeima's own rules between September last year and January this year. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/26.02.2026-saeima-increases-housing-benefit-payments.a636459/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:52 GMT 636459 The Saeima on Thursday, February 26th, supported in its final reading urgent changes to the law to increase housing benefits for low-income residents, as well as vulnerable families with children, during this cold winter. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/19.02.2026-saeima-marks-four-years-of-russias-war-against-ukraine.a635385/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:07:00 GMT 635385 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, on February 19th adopted a statement marking four years since the launch of Russia's brutal and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/18.02.2026-for-stability-party-fails-to-live-up-to-its-name-yet-again.a635259/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:07:00 GMT 635259 The Latvian political party named 'Stabilitātei!' (For Stability!) singularly failed to live up to its name on February 18th with Latvian Television reporting that its parliamentary faction had disbanded following the departure of another of its members of parliament, Dmitrijs Kovaļenko. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/10.02.2026-for-stability-parliamentary-faction-shrinks.a633964/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:58:00 GMT 633964 Three MPs – Iļja Ivanovs, Igors Judins, and Amils Saļimovs– have left the Saeima faction For Stability!, according to information available to Latvian Television. This leaves only five MPs in the faction. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/05.02.2026-latvian-saeima-says-how-much-it-appreciates-america-and-canada.a633251/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:02:00 GMT 633251 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima on Thursday, February 5, emphasized in a special statement its desire to strengthen and deepen cooperation with both Canada and the United States in the areas of security, economy and technology. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/29.01.2026-saeima-stages-annual-foreign-policy-debate.a631630/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:23:00 GMT 631630 The annual foreign policy debates will be held at Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, on Thursday, January 29th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/20.01.2026-saeima-speaker-mierina-signs-up-to-trump-flattery-letter.a630809/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:48:00 GMT 630809 Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa (Greens and Farmers Union) has signed a letter to the Nobel Prize Committee, urging that the 2025 Peace Prize be awarded to US President Donald Trump, reports the Latvian news weekly, "Ir". https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/15.01.2026-new-saeima-deputy-gatere-takes-up-mandate.a630052/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:41:00 GMT 630052 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, on January 15th approved the mandate of Liene Gātere as its newest member. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/29.12.2025-saeima-member-edgars-zelderis-dies.a628072/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:45:02 GMT 628072 After a long absence, Saeima MP Edgars Zelderis has died, the Saeima Press Service confirmed to the LETA news agency. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/17.12.2025-latvian-parliament-holding-christmas-charity-auction-for-ukraine.a626800/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:17:00 GMT 626800 On December 18 at 12:30, a Christmas charity auction will be held for the first time at the Saeima in central Rīga, where members of the public (and indeed deputies) will have the opportunity to purchase unique items from Ukraine. It will also be an opportunity to help children in Ukraine, who have been deprived of their safety and stability by Russia's war. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/04.12.2025-2026-latvian-state-budget-passed-at-last.a625141/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:29:00 GMT 625141 At the conclusion of two days of debate, Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, on the evening of December 4th managed to pass the 2026 budget. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/04.12.2025-saeima-budget-debates-start-second-day.a625010/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:16:00 GMT 625010 Saeima deputies were back at it on Thursday, December 4th, having put in a 12-hour shift (with regular breaks) during a day of budget debates on Wednesday. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/03.12.2025-latvian-parliament-sets-sail-on-annual-budget-passing-odyssey.a624829/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:08:49 GMT 624829 Saeima deputies got down to the business of giving the 2026 state budget its final reading on Wednesday, December 3rd – a process that is likely to take quite a long time given that they will need to work their way through hundreds of proposed amendments before they get to the final vote. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/20.11.2025-second-budget-reading-will-include-nearly-600-proposed-amendments.a623144/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:18:00 GMT 623144 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, may have passed the government's spending plans for 2026 in a first reading, but deputies will have plenty more work to do on it as almost 600 amendments have been appended to it ahead of its second reading. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.11.2025-bad-boys-and-girl-of-the-summer-saeima-session-named.a622547/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:32:00 GMT 622547 Six members of the 14th Saeima were held administratively liable between the end of April and September of this year, mainly for road traffic offences, the Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee reported to the Saeima on Thursday, November 13th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/14.11.2025-baltic-assembly-meeting-in-riga.a622373/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:31:00 GMT 622373 On November 14th the representatives and the Speakers of the Baltic parliaments, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States come together in the Saeima, the Parliament of Latvia, for the 44th Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 31st Baltic Council. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/06.11.2025-saeima-conceptually-supports-latvias-2026-budget.a621424/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:05:13 GMT 621424 On Thursday, November 6, after more than 12 hours of work in the first reading, the parliament conceptually supported the 2026 state budget bill with three priorities – security, support for families with children, and education, for which additional funding of nearly 700 million is planned. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/05.11.2025-latvian-saeima-parks-istanbul-convention-exit-until-next-parliamentary-term.a621203/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:32:00 GMT 621203 On Wednesday, November 5th, Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, decided to leave a final decision on whether to leave the Istanbul Convention until late next year.