Latvian president submits legislative initiative on access to official secrets for heads of municipalities

Latvian president’s advisor for communication affairs Mārtiņš Drēģeris reports that on Wednesday, the 22nd of November, Edgars Rinkēvičs signed and sent to the Saeima a legislative draft to the Law on Official Secret and amendments to the Law on Local Governments.
These legislative drafts will provide a requirement for heads of municipalities to receive special permits to access official secrets.
“In the current geopolitical situation, when Russia continues its full-scale military offensive against Ukraine, it is unacceptable for leading officials of municipalities, whose duties include the performance of duties of national and public importance, might not meet the requirements laid down by law in order to obtain a special permit for access to state secrets, or would not be able to work with protected information.
The adoption of this requirement for leading municipal officials

is not the goal itself or political want,

but an objective need. Efficient ability of municipalities to take action is important in crises and everyday life.
Full and effective performance of the functions of municipalities both on a daily basis, in the event of a threat to the state, and in crisis situations is by nature impossible if municipal officials do not have the right and, therefore, the opportunity to learn official secrets,” stressed in the letter sent by the President to the Saeima Praesidium.
On the 28th of September the Saeima approved a new National Security Concept. On the 5th of October the parliament approved the State Defence Concept. Both concepts outline a path towards a comprehensive state defence system, which includes not only strengthening defence and deterrence capacities, but also strengthening the resilience, capacity and will of society to defend the state, while also emphasising the active role and involvement of local authorities. Each municipality has tasks in the event of a state threat in order to continue the performance of functions critical to society and to support state institutions and the National Armed Forces.
The Civil Protection System is one of the cornerstones of an effective and comprehensive national defence system. It covers civil-military cooperation – coordination between civilian and military institutions, coordination of resources and harmonization of capabilities. The ability of the civilian sector to provide critical services to the population and civilian support to military operations is one of NATO’s basic requirements.
The legislative draft does not in any way limit the rights of municipal officials and workers to turn to competent state security institutions to receive special permission to access official secrets if it is required to perform their direct duties.
Also read: OPINION | Latvia needs a sort of “earthquake” – no permit, no seat in city council!
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