This week Latvia’s focus was on the progress with the Civil Union Law – what will Saeima decide? In the end deputies decided to not vote on the legislative draft – only 40 deputies showed up for the vote. This means there wasn’t a sufficient number of deputies to hold a vote.
Minister of Justice Jānis Bordāns, who was in charge of the legislative draft’s development, called the Saeima’s decision was an intentional breach of a ruling of the court, which is a criminal offence.
This week the Saeima did vote on allowing criminal prosecution of deputy Mārtiņš Bondars. The crime he is accused of is related to illegalities related to certain agreements and his term working at Latvijas Krājbanka. Bondars has already announced he will step down as chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee and that he will not run in 14th Saeima elections.
This week also marked 100 days since the start of Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has decided to provide fighter jets worth five million and the European Commission has finally leaned towards restricting imports of Russian oil. Hungary objects to the latter, as it imports 60% of oil from Russia.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Failed quorum; Bondars’ criminal prosecution; 14th Saeima elections; Wages in Latvia; People in Latvia; Inflation in Estonia; Russian oil.
FAILED QUORUM
Latvian Saeima does not pass Civil Union Law
Photo: Paula Čurkste/LETAOn Thursday, 2 June, Latvia’s parliament failed to pass the Civil Union Law due to lack of quorum.
If the 13th Saeima fails to pass this law in its remaining term, the 14th Saeima will be able to continue its review. The 13th Saeima’s term ends this autumn.
During the first two votes on the Civil Union Law there was no quorum in the Saeuma – only 40 deputies participated. For there to be a quorum, at least 50 deputies out of 100 have to participate.
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BONDARS’ CRIMINAL PROSECUTION
Latvian parliament permits criminal prosecution of Mārtiņš Bondars
Mārtiņš Bondars. Photo: Zane Bitere/LETAOn Thursday, 2 June, Latvia’s Saeima decided to allow criminal prosecution of 13th Saeima deputy Mārtiņš Bondars, BNN was told by Saeima press-service.
The parliament made this decision after studying the report from the Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee. The Prosecutor General’s Office submitted to the parliament the request to permit Bondars’ criminal prosecution.
As previously reported, following the request for criminal prosecution, Bondars decided to step down as chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee. He also has no plans to run in 14th Saeima elections.
According to the prosecution, Bondars, his wife Ieva Bondare and the late sworn notary Līga Eglīte had falsified and used a fake document, causing substantial damage to the plaintiff’s legally protected interests.
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14th SAEIMA ELECTIONS
Central Election Commission registers election candidates for each Latvian region
Photo: Zane Bitere/LETAThis autumn 14th Saeima elections will see one candidate more from Riga and Vidzeme election regions and one fewer in Latgale and Zemgale, according to data compiled by the Central Election Commission (CVK) on Thursday, 2 June.
While currently there are 35 deputies from Riga elected to the Saeima, in the next elections it will be necessary to elect 36 deputies from this election region. In Vidzeme it will be necessary to elect 26 deputies, in Latgale and Zemgale – 13 each, and in Kurzeme it will be necessary to elect 12.
According to information from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, as of 31 May 2022 there were 563 356 voters registered in Riga’s election region, 395 630 in Vidzeme, 206 194 in Zemgale, 195 643 in Latgale and 180 456 in Kurzeme.
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WAGE IN LATVIA
Average gross wage in Latvia calculated at EUR 1 297
Photo: UnsplashIn Q1 2022 the average gross wages and salaries for full-time work in the country amounted to EUR 1 297. Compared to Q1 2021, the average monthly earnings grew by EUR 84 or 6.9 % thus coming nearer the annual increase rate recorded before the pandemic (7.2% in 2019).
Hourly earnings before taxes increased to EUR 8.72 or by 9.6%.
Compared to Q4 2021, average monthly gross wages and salaries dropped by 2.9% and hourly earnings by 1.7% in Q1 2022, according to data of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
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PEOPLE IN LATVIA
CSP reports population decline in Latvia
Photo: UnsplashAt the beginning of 2022 population of Latvia accounted for 1 million 876 thousand people, which is 17.5 thousand people fewer than a year ago.
Last year population declined more sharply than a year before – by 0.92% and 0.76%, respectively, of which a drop of 0.91% was due to natural decrease and of 0.01 % due to migration. Along with the increase in the number of Ukraine citizens who have applied for temporary protection in Latvia, the positive migration dynamics may be expected also in future.
Natural decrease registered over the past five years exceeded the negative difference in migration flows significantly. Moreover, the trend was growing last year, during Covid-19 pandemic when death rate went up, especially in January and autumn months, according to the data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
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INFLATION IN ESTONIA
Eurozone’s fastest inflation last month seen in Estonia
Photo: CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/SCANPIXIn May, quick changes in consumer prices on year were noticed across the Eurozone. Leading the list, however, are the Baltic states with Estonia’s 20,1%, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reports quoting a flash estimate by the EU’s statistics agency.
Eurostat estimated that the Eurozone inflation was 7.4% in April. Energy prices continued to have the largest effect in May, with the price increase there surging from 37.5% in April to 39.2% in May.
Prices of food, alcohol and tobacco grew more expensive by 7.5% in May, up from 6.3% in April.
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RUSSIAN OIL
EU leaders agree to prohibit two-thirds of imports of Russian oil
Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Latvian State ChancelleryIn an effort to further expand sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, European leaders decided during a summit on Monday, 30 May, to prohibit more than two-thirds of imports of Russian oil, as reported by President of the European Council Charles Michel.
«Agreement to ban export of Russian oil to the EU. This immediately covers more than 2/3 of oil imports from Russia, cutting a huge source of financing for its war machine. Maximum pressure on Russia to end the war,» Michel wrote on Twitter.
Sources among diplomats told DPA news agency that by the end of the year it is planned gradually prohibit imports of oil from Russia by sea. Germany and Poland promise to gradually close down imports of oil through their pipelines.
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BNN summary of the week: Failed quorum. Bondars’ criminal prosecution. Oil from Russia
