Latvia’s President Egils Levits has submitted a legislative draft to the Saeima in an attempt to change the status of Latvian Orthodox Church and make it completely independent, as confirmed by the president on 5 September after meeting with leaders of Saeima factions.
Currently Latvian Orthodox Church answers to Moscow Patriarchate, which supports the ruling regime in Russia and the war in Ukraine.
As the president wrote on his Twitter profile, cutting ties with Moscow Patriarchate is a major issue for Latvian Orthodox Christians, the entire society in Latvia and the country’s national security.
«Our Orthodox Christians in Latvia need their own and independent church,» Levits wrote.
According to Levits, his proposed legislative proposal would restore the historical status of Latvian Orthodox Church and exclude any kind of power of the Moscow Patriarchate over the church in Latvia.
«If the law comes to force, any influence or power of Moscow Patriarchate over our Orthodox Church would be excluded,» said the president.
Sadarbībā ar @Bordans esmu sagatavojis un šorīt iesniedzu izskatīšanai @Jekaba11 grozījumus Latvijas Pareizticīgās Baznīcas likumā. Tie paredz pilnā mērā atzīt Latvijas Pareizticīgās Baznīcas patstāvīgo un neatkarīgo (autokefālo) statusu.
— Egils Levits (@valstsgriba) September 5, 2022
The president also received support from ruling factions of the Saeima in regards to his suggested legislative draft. The Orthodox Church has been informed of this legislative proposal.
New Unity’s faction is expected to support the president’s legislative proposal, as confirmed by the chairman of the party’s Saeima faction Ainars Latkovskis –
Tikko Saeimā saņemts Valsts prezidenta iesniegtais likumprojekts, ar kuru tiek atzīts un nostiprināts Latvijas Pareizticīgās Baznīcas kā pilnīgi pastāvīgas un neatkarīgas baznīcas statuss. Šim likumprojektam būs nedalīts JV frakcijas atbalsts.https://t.co/mQrfmWMZOm
— Ainars Latkovskis (@a_latkovskis) September 5, 2022