In total, if we count the debates on the convention from last week, the parliamentarians have already dedicated more than 10 hours to this topic!
Independent Saeima deputy Alexander Kiršteins responded from the Saeima podium to statements from opponents of Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, claiming that this withdrawal contradicts the policies of Latvia's allies.
"An important thesis was mentioned here: what will our allies say? I have only one question for our partners here and the deputies from 'New Unity' and PROGRESSIVES. Our main ally is the United States and its president. And the question is, do you oppose the US president's order in the first week to remove all transgender individuals from the armed forces? If you oppose it — has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs already prepared a condemning resolution that the Foreign Affairs Committee would consider, or is it only preparing to draft such a resolution? So let’s not be hypocritical here with allies, okay?
And the second question: do you support the words of our main ally — the president of the USA — that transgender individuals, or rather, not transgender individuals, but this imagined psychological or social gender, that is, men with beards, should no longer participate in women's sports disciplines, right? Separate sports games can be created for transgender individuals to avoid these disputes. And we know that right now... There are ongoing disputes in both the Olympic Committee and the Paralympic Committee about who can participate and who should not. And here Latvia, especially 'New Unity' and PROGRESSIVES, could propose to all these people to create their own sports games.
But I have a specific question. Come and tell us what you think about this US presidential order and whether you support it? And if not, what will you do?" said A. Kiršteins from the podium.
