The Saeima took a pause: the issue of the Istanbul Convention will be decided by the next parliament 0 7

As reported, the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday began discussing a proposal to set a deadline for submitting proposals regarding the law on withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention for a period of less than one year.

Supporting Latvia's stay in the convention, MP Kalniņa-Lukaševica noted that at the extraordinary meeting of the Saeima, the parliament will have to decide which committee will be responsible — usually, it is the same committee that has already dealt with this issue, in this case, the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The politician emphasized that the Saeima will have to determine both the deadline for submitting proposals and the deadline for reviewing the law at a parliamentary meeting. She added that usually the responsible committee agrees on the deadlines in advance, however, regulations do not provide for such an obligation. Kalniņa-Lukaševica proposed to respond to President Edgars Rinkēvičs' call to leave this issue for the decision of the next composition of the Saeima, and to set the deadline for submitting proposals as November 1 of next year, that is, shortly before the end of the current term. The next parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 3, 2026.

"This would mean that in this term, in-depth debates on the Istanbul Convention would no longer take place," added the Saeima deputy.

Previously, the law was considered in the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, where the majority are deputies from parties that previously supported withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. The committee is chaired by opposition representative Ināra Mūrniece (National Alliance). Widespread debates at the Saeima meeting this week are not expected, as the established procedure does not provide for this.

As reported, today at 9:30, the parliament was to consider the issue of transferring the law on the denunciation of the Istanbul Convention to the committee, which President Edgars Rinkēvičs returned to the Saeima for reconsideration.

As explained on the parliament's website, if the law is returned to the Saeima for reconsideration, the parliament, without debate, sends the president's reasoned objections to the committee and makes a decision on the deadline for submitting proposals and the reconsideration of the law.

The reconsideration is conducted in the order of the third reading. During the reconsideration, the parliament only considers the president's objections and related proposals. If the Saeima does not change the law, the president will not be able to raise objections again — this is provided for by the Constitution.

On October 30, with the votes of the opposition and the Union of Greens and Farmers (SZF), the Saeima adopted the law on Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.

The bill was submitted by the opposition party "Latvia First" (LPM), but it was also supported by other opposition parties — the National Alliance (NA), the United List (OS), the Stability Party, as well as politicians from the ruling coalition SZF. The ruling coalition parties — "New Unity" (NE) and "Progressives" — opposed the withdrawal from the convention.

Earlier, many non-governmental organizations, as well as the NE and "Progressives" parties, appealed to the president not to promulgate this law and to return it to the Saeima for reconsideration.

Most experts and non-governmental organizations dealing with violence prevention issues oppose withdrawal from the convention, expressing concern that this will weaken the protection of victims of violence and negatively affect Latvia's international image in the eyes of Western allies.

Last Wednesday, about 5,000 people participated in a protest against withdrawal from the convention in front of the Saeima building — one of the largest actions in recent years. Repeated protests are expected this week.

In Latvia, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, came into force on May 1 of last year. This international treaty obliges participating countries to develop a coordinated policy for better protection of women from all forms of violence, as well as women and men from domestic violence. In particular, countries need to provide comprehensive assistance and protection to victims, including crisis centers, a 24-hour hotline, specialized support centers for victims of sexual violence, as well as protection and support for children who have witnessed violence.