On 29 May, Latvian Saeima adopted amendments to Parliament's Rules of Procedure in its 3rd and final reading. They foresee, among another things, a legal request for Members to usage the authoritative state language (Latvian) both among themselves and in communication with the Latvian public anywhere in the Saeima building, not only in the gathering room, as had happened earlier.
Although the amended rules supply that Latvian should be utilized between Members and Latvian nationals, MEPs will inactive be able to talk to abroad diplomats or visiting officials in another language. A akin regulation will apply to abroad media, provided that the typical of these media asking a question in a abroad language is not a citizen of Latvia.
At the same time, the amendments reenforce the rules on the distant participation of members of the Saeima committee in meetings. A associate of the committee is expected to be able to do so if he cannot arrive at the gathering due to an emergency situation or if there are also peculiar circumstances preventing his participation in the committee's gathering in person. distant participation in the gathering will be possible if this is agreed earlier with the president of the committee meeting, while the president himself will be able to attend the gathering only in person.
The amendments besides specify the procedure for initiating criminal proceedings against a Member, inter alia, by establishing that Saeima's consent is required even to proceed criminal proceedings which were initiated before the election of the applicable associate of Parliament.
Source: LSM.lv
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