Former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga has sharply criticised the Saeima’s decision in a social media post, calling it an example of “backwards crawling” that damages Latvia’s reputation as a modern European democracy. She stresses that such a decision serves the interests of forces seeking to weaken Latvia and distance it from European values.
“I am ashamed of the Saeima’s decision. Since when such backward crawling? Since when have we become like this? Who benefits from damaging Latvia’s good reputation as a modern democracy? Those who wish to weaken us and detach us from the family of European nations — certainly.”
As previously reported by BNN, the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) currently sees no reason to change its stance on the Istanbul Convention if President Edgars Rinkēvičs decides to send the law back to the Saeima for reconsideration, ZZS Saeima faction leader Harijs Rokpelnis told LETA.
Rokpelnis stated that the Saeima Budget Committee meeting confirmed that the coalition is still working effectively. He noted that previously reached agreements are being upheld, and work on the budget package, the associated draft laws and related regulations continues.
He emphasised that there is already a clear action plan for next week,
and ZZS is urging more focus on practical budget matters. In his view, there are still several unresolved issues that must be agreed upon before the first reading of the budget in the Saeima.
The coalition has agreed to address these matters, and work is progressing according to the established schedule and plan.
Commenting on the possibility of changing their stance on the Istanbul Convention, Rokpelnis stated that there is currently no reason to deviate from the previously expressed position.
Earlier, New Unity (JV) Saeima faction leader Edmunds Jurēvics told LETA that JV will call on President Rinkēvičs to return the Istanbul Convention withdrawal law to the Saeima for a second review. According to Jurēvics, JV still has plan “A”, plan “B”, and plan “C”.
As reported, on Thursday the Saeima, with votes from the opposition and ZZS,
adopted a law on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence
against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention.
The “Marta Centre” and several other non-governmental organisations have sent a letter to President Edgars Rinkēvičs urging him to return the law to the Saeima for a second review.
The organisations consider the Convention to be one of the most important international human rights instruments protecting women, children, and those at risk of violence, as it obliges the state not only to punish perpetrators but also to develop preventive mechanisms, educate society, provide assistance to victims and strengthen law enforcement capacity to prevent violence.
They also note that the draft law was handled hastily and the process did not include meaningful public, expert, or stakeholder discussion. Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Committee did not provide an opportunity for responsible ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to present their views.
The authors of the letter underline that a disinformation campaign regarding certain anti-violence provisions of the Convention and their compatibility with the Constitution and other laws has been observed in the public space.
Considering that 39 Council of Europe member states have ratified the Convention,
withdrawal would significantly damage Latvia’s international reputation, endangering Latvia’s image as a European, law-abiding state that supports human rights and gender equality, the letter states.
The letter has been signed by more than 2,000 people, including the first Chairman of the Latvian Popular Front, Dainis Īvāns, civil activist and former Supreme Council MP Velta Čebotarenoka, actors Vilis Daudziņš, Zane Daudziņa, Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa, Kaspars Gods, Inga Ungure, directors Matīss Kaža, Uģis Olte, Elmārs Seņkovs, musicians Ralfs Eilands, Aija Andrejeva, Jēkabs Nīmanis, Marta Grigale, and writers Inese Zandere, Ieva Melgalve, Inga Gaile and others.
Following the Saeima’s decision, the international human rights organisation Amnesty International also issued a statement.
Amnesty’s senior women’s rights expert Monica Costa Riba stated that
“Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention would be a devastating blow
to the protection and rights of women and girls in the country, as well as to all those affected by domestic violence, sending a dangerous message to abusers that they may exploit and kill women and girls with impunity.”
The bill to withdraw from the Convention was submitted by the opposition party Latvia First (LPV) and was supported by other opposition parties — the National Alliance (NA), United List (AS), and For Stability!, as well as ZZS politicians within the ruling coalition. The withdrawal was not supported by the coalition parties New Unity (JV) and The Progressives.
Fifty-six deputies voted for withdrawal, 32 JV and Progressives MPs voted against, and two MPs — Igors Rajevs and Didzis Šmits — abstained. The debate on the draft law lasted more than 13 hours.
The law was adopted under an expedited procedure,
but not with a two-thirds majority, which gives the President the opportunity not to promulgate it and return it to the Saeima for a second review. Opponents of the decision have mentioned other potential ways to stop or delay the law from taking effect — applying to the Constitutional Court or asking the President to suspend promulgation to allow time to collect signatures to initiate a referendum.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs has so far spoken very cautiously about the denouncement of the Convention, not expressing support for either position. According to the President, he is seeking to maintain neutrality so as not to become a participant in pre-election battles. He has acknowledged that once the Saeima’s decision reaches “his desk”, he will thoroughly evaluate it before making a decision.
In Latvia, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence — the so-called Istanbul Convention — entered into force on the 1st of May last year. It is an international treaty requiring member states to develop a coordinated policy framework to better protect women from all forms of violence, as well as women and men from domestic violence. Among other obligations, member states must provide comprehensive support and protection for victims, crisis centres, a 24/7 helpline, specialised support centres for sexual violence survivors, and ensure protection and assistance for children who witness violence.
Read also: Latvia’s President faces a decisive moment: Saeima’s Istanbul Convention decision lands on his desk