This week it finally became clear the 14th Saeima coalition in Latvia will consist of three parties. The new coalition will consist of New Unity, Combined List and National Alliance. Progressive Party was left overboard and will work in the opposition instead.
The 13th Saeima gathered for one final meeting this week. During this meeting members of the parliament passed several important amendments to different laws. One of the decisions is intended to close the doors of the European Parliament for Tatyana Zhdanok and everyone else who was a member of the Communist Party after 13 January 1991.
This week European Parliament president Robera Metsola visited Latvia. The read a speech to the 13th Saeima deputies. In it, she admitted that Latvia’s past warnings about Russia were correct.
Britain, meanwhile, has found a new prime minister – Rishi Sunak.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Three-party coalition; Drunk driving a crime; Doors closed for Zhdanok; Metsola in Latvia; Internal Security Academy; A new PM again; Musk’s Twitter; Changes in motor industry.
THREE-PARTY COALITION
Coalition in Latvia to consist of three parties; Progressive Party rejects «younger brother» role
Photo: Zane Bitere/LETAThe next ruling coalition in Latvia will consist of three parties – New Unity (JV), Combined List (AS) and National Alliance (NA). The Progressive Party rejected the offer for a mutual cooperation agreement with JV.
After his meeting with President Egils Levits this Monday, 24 October, JV leader Krišjānis Kariņš told journalists that JV will offer AS and NA to sign a cooperation memorandum regarding the founding principles of the coalition. The forming coalition is prepared to offer Progressive Party one the ministries.
This would create a clear three-party coalition with a cooperation memorandum between Progressive Party and JV on working together in the 14th Saeima.
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DRUNK DRIVING A CRIME
13th Saeima declares drunk driving a criminal offence in Latvia
Beigta balle road safety campaign from 2008. Photo: Ieva Čīka/LETAOn Thursday, 27 October, Latvia’s 13th Saeima passed in the third reading amendments to the Criminal Law. These amendments state that drunk driving enter criminal liability if the alcohol concentration in the blood of a driver caught drunk driving exceeds 1.5 per mille.
At the same time the parliament passed accompanying amendments to the Road Traffic Law.
Criminal liability is introduced for driving a vehicle or giving driving lessons while in a state of narcotic, psychotropic, toxic or other forms of intoxication. Concentration volumes or stages of intoxication are not listed.
Punishment for aforementioned criminal act is deprivation of freedom for up to 12 months, short-term deprivation of freedom, a period of probation, community service or a fine, with confiscation of driver’s license for a period of five years.
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DOORS CLOSED FOR ZHDANOK
Saeima passes amendments that ban Zhdanok from running in European Parliament elections
Photo: Zane Bitere/LETALatvia’s Saeima passed in the final reading amendments to the Election to the European Parliament Law, stating that people who served in the Latvian Communist party after 13 January 1991 are not allowed to run in EP elections in Latvia.
The amendment project was submitted by National Alliance member Aleksandrs Kiršteins. Saeima deputy Jānis Iesalnieks previously said that the passed amendments to the law will prohibit MEP Tatyana Zhdanok from running in EP elections in Latvia again.
The Supreme Court previously found that Zhdanok was a member of the Communist Party after 13 January 1991.
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METSOLA IN LATVIA
EP President: Latvia was right with its warnings about Russia
Roberta Metsola. Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETALatvia’s experience and leadership will be decisive in the coming steps the EU will need to make to overcome threats to democratic values, EU’s welfare and peace, said chairperson of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola in her speech at the final meeting of the 13th Saeima.
Latvia is very well aware of «what we are dealing with», she admitted, adding that the country’s warnings about Russia were correct. We have to fight for peace with freedom, justice and responsibility, said the politician.
Metsola said Latvia is an example of residents and politicians uniting to oppose a brutal, autocratic force. But it is necessary for greater EU solidarity, which is especially important to overcome the energy resources and economic crisis.
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INTERNAL SECURITY ACADEMY
Latvia to create Internal Security Academy; first students to enrol in 2023
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETAThere are plans to invest approximately EUR 45 million into the Internal Security Academy (IDA). The first students are planned to enrol in September next year, said Minister of the Interior Kristaps Eklons.
The heads of the Ministry of the Interior, State Police College, Riga Stradins University and University of Latvia signed an agreement for the creation of IDA on Tuesday, 25 October.
Now officials will tackle development of the programme and investments into infrastructure. Next year it is planned to allocate EUR 3 million. The total investment fund is estimated at EUR 45 million, which will come from the state budget and EU funding, said Eklons.
It is planned to establish infrastructure for the academy’s needs in Riga, Ezermalas Street.
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A NEW PRIME MINISTER AGAIN
Rishi Sunak becomes Britain’s new prime minister
Photo: AFP/SCANPIX/LETABritain’s Minister of Finances Rishi Sunak has won in the race for the leader’s position of the Conservative Party, which means he will become the country’s new prime minister, as reported by BBC.
Sunak won after his sole competitor Penny Mordaunt announced her decision to leave the race after failing to secure the necessary support from 100 members.
This makes Rishi Sunak the first British prime minister of Asian descent.
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MUSK’S TWITTER
Elon Musk takes over Twitter and fires managers
Photo: Reuters/SCANPIX/LETAU.S. billionaire Elon Musk has officially taken control of Twitter and has dismissed its managers, as reported by American media on Thursday, 27 October.
Musk fired Twitter’s CEO Parag Agrawal and the company’s Chief Financial Officer and its Head of Legal Policy, Trust and Safety, as Washington Post and CNBC reported with reference to anonymous sources.
Agrawal did turn to a court of law to have Musk uphold the conditions of the Twitter purchase deal.
The takeover of Twitter was reported a couple of hours before the term set by the court for Musk to complete the deal, which is worth USD 44 billion.
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CHANGES IN THE MOTOR INDUSTRY
Sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines to cease in Europe in 2035
Photo: UnsplashOn Thursday, 27 October, the European Parliament and European Union member states reached an agreement that provides for the cessation of sales of vehicles fitted with internal combustion engines, as reported by the Czech Republic, which is the current presiding country.
The decision to cease using internal combustion engines is one of the measures intended to assist with EU’s goals for climate change restriction and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the year 2030 in comparison to the level observed in 1990, as a well as accomplish «climate neutrality» by the year 2050.
Vehicles with internal combustion engines currently contribute 12% of EU carbon dioxide emissions. Vehicles in general contribute approximately a quarter of all emissions.
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BNN summary of the week: Three-party coalition. Metsola in Latvia. New PM in Britain
