The current requirement – more than 150,000 signatures from citizens of the Republic of Latvia – makes it practically impossible to hold referendums in Latvia. But this does not stop the people of Latvia.
The population of Latvia brings its legislative initiatives for discussion on the platform manabalss.lv, and if the initiative gathers at least 10,000 signatures from adult citizens of the Republic of Latvia, it can be submitted for discussion in the Saeima.
It should be noted that Latvians actively use this opportunity to launch and support popular initiatives.
While politicians are still contemplating whether to open a discussion on the right to choose savings in the second pension level, public activists are already collecting signatures in support of such a decision. On the portal of popular initiatives manabalss.lv, about 9,500 citizens of the Republic of Latvia have already signed in favor of allowing Latvia, following the example of Lithuania and Estonia, to permit residents to choose their savings in the second pension level.
It is obvious that 10,000 signatures will be collected, which will allow this initiative to be submitted to the Saeima.
Rumor has it that soon the parliamentary opposition parties will also come forward with similar proposals — to follow the example of Estonia and Lithuania and allow Latvians to at least partially choose their savings in the second pension level.
Latvians are also being asked to support two initiatives aimed at "complicating" the lives of Saeima deputies. One proposal suggests prohibiting deputies from abstaining during voting. The author of the initiative believes that by pressing the "abstain" button, a deputy avoids clearly expressing their position on a particular issue.
Another initiative proposes the elimination of the Saeima's auto base – let the servants of the people travel in their personal cars or use public transport.
As the Riga City Council plans to reduce several kindergartens, initiatives from parents have appeared on the portal manabalss.lv regarding the preservation of the kindergarten in Vecmilgravis and requests not to close kindergartens in Bolderāja and Daugavgrīva.
This week, the Saeima is likely to pass a popular initiative against the leasing of the concert hall in Rēzekne, GORS, to a private company for further study by the government. The authors of the initiative believe that leasing to private entities will lead to the commercialization of the concert hall and reduce the accessibility of cultural events.
