Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs positively assessed the work of the 14th Saeima in the field of national security, but emphasized that in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical risks, the country still has many important decisions to make.
Speaking at the closing session of the spring session of parliament, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that the 14th Saeima has made a number of important decisions aimed at strengthening the security of the state during its term.
At the same time, the head of state emphasized that the current parliament began its work in a special historical period. According to Rinkēvičs, the deputies started fulfilling their duties in 2022 — the year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which seriously changed the security situation not only in Latvia but throughout Europe.
The president reminded that in recent years, parliament has adopted several strategically important decisions. Among them, he particularly highlighted the law on the National Defense Service, the increase of defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product, and the creation of anti-mobility infrastructure on the eastern border.
"The 14th Saeima has made a number of important decisions to strengthen the security of Latvia," the president emphasized.
According to him, this is not only about military security.
Rinkēvičs noted that parliament has also paid attention to issues of the internal resilience of the state. In particular, amendments to the Criminal Code were adopted, tightening responsibility for crimes against state security, a requirement for access to state secrets was introduced for municipal leaders, and a Crisis Management Center was created.
The president specifically drew attention to the connection between security and democratic values. In his opinion, the decisions made by parliament contributed to strengthening democratic institutions and confirmed Latvia's commitment to the principles of the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
What is important to know: the increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP has become one of the most significant decisions in recent years in the field of security. Latvia is among the NATO countries that are actively increasing defense funding in the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Rinkēvičs also thanked the deputies for their work with international partners. According to him, cooperation with the parliaments of allies today has not only diplomatic but also practical significance for the country's security.
"This is not just a formality, but a direct contribution to the security of Latvia," the president noted.
The head of state separately emphasized the unwavering support for Ukraine from the Latvian parliament. He stated that the principled position of the Saeima and assistance to Ukraine are highly valued both in Ukraine itself and among international partners.
According to Rinkēvičs, such support helps strengthen cooperation between the two countries and allows Latvia to adopt the experience that Ukraine has gained in wartime conditions.
Despite the results achieved, the president made it clear that it is too early to consider the work completed. He noted that the pre-election period has begun earlier than usual; however, the parliament still has many tasks that require attention before the current term ends.
