Saeima adopted rules on formation of standing committees...

LATVIA – SAEIMA

The Saeima adopted the rules formation of permanent committees of the Saeima at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, November 17.

According to the Seimas Press Service, the rules stipulate that each member of the Saeima can be elected only to one of the following legislative commissions: Foreign Affairs Commission, Budget and Finance (Tax) Commission, Legal Commission, Human Rights and Public Relations Commission, Education, Culture and Science Commission, Defence, Internal Affairs and Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Administration and Local Government Commission, National Economy Commission, Agrarian, Environmental and Regional Policy Commission and Commission on Regional Policy.

The rules stipulate that each member of the Saeima can be elected only to one of the following legislative commissions: Foreign Affairs Commission, Budget and Finance (Tax) Commission, Legal Commission, Human Rights and Public Relations Commission, Education, Culture and Science Commission, Defence, Internal Affairs and Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Administration and Local Government Commission, National Economy Commission, Agrarian, Environmental and Regional Policy Commission and Commission on Regional Policy.

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The principle of proportionality is supposed to be respected in the formation of the aforementioned commissions of the Saeima. Namely, another deputy from the same faction may be a member of these commissions only if deputies of this faction are already represented in all the above commissions.

In addition, an MP may also serve on only one of the following commissions: Mandates Commission, Ethics and Submission Commission, Inquiry Commission, Public Expenditure and Audit Commission, National Security Commission, Commission on Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion, Commission on European Affairs. Commission, Commission on Sustainable Development.

One deputy from each faction is expected to be elected to the National Security Commission and two deputies from each faction to the Mandates, Ethics and Representation Commission.

As regards the establishment of the Inquiry Commission, the Public Expenditure and Audit Commission, the Commission for Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion, the European Affairs Commission and the Commission on Sustainable Development, the principle of proportionality is to be followed.

Deputies may be elected to the Committee if they have confirmed in writing to the Presidium of the Saeima their desire to become a member of the respective Committee.

If all the conditions for establishing a commission are met, the Saeima shall vote for all the nominated candidates to the commission as a whole.

In accordance with the Saeima Regulations, there are 16 commissions in the Saeima, the principles of which are determined by the Saeima. Saeima Committees work within a defined legislative framework, supervise the activities of the executive branch and perform other tasks appropriate to the specific nature of the work of the committees. Commissions of the Saeima prepare for deliberations of the Saeima on matters that are discussed at the sessions of the Saeima. Based on the decisions of the Saeima, Committees shall examine draft laws, proposals and submissions.

The Presidium of the Saeima and the Faction Council had agreed in advance that the factions could nominate their representatives for parliamentary commissions until 9:00 on 21 November. The extraordinary session of the Saeima, which will approve the composition of the Saeima commissions, is to be convened on 23 November.