Wake up, what are we doing right now?! 0 15

Debates on Latvia's exit from the Istanbul Convention are in full swing in the Saeima. Notably, the parliamentarians from two factions that are categorically against Latvia's exit from the Istanbul Convention - 'New Unity' and 'Progressives' - are actively participating in the debates. The Vice-Speaker of the Saeima, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica ('New Unity'), shamed her colleagues from the parliamentary podium (who are in the majority) supporting the relevant bill.

"We really need to reduce bureaucracy, you need to stimulate the economy and security. But you only want to deal with the convention. More than anything else in the world! Colleagues, wake up!

If we have come to this, then the question is: what do you want to achieve with this? Latvia is proposed to exit the Council of Europe Convention on combating violence. This means tearing Latvia out of the European space of values, tearing Latvia out of European human rights regulation, tearing Latvia out of the foundations of justice.

And if we look back historically, when this Istanbul Convention was developed, which was the only country that categorically opposed and never signed this convention? Russia!

So why do we suddenly need to try to join the club of countries where Russia is currently located, expelled from the Council of Europe, Belarus, which was never accepted... And all other countries in Europe, democratic European countries, have signed or ratified the convention," the Vice-Speaker of Parliament stated. But it is evident that the majority of deputies are in favor of exiting the convention, and if the session does not drag on due to the large number of speakers, the bill will be supported in the first reading late this evening, and a week later - in the final reading.