The proposed changes to the national referendum process would make politicians more accountable for their decisions, says Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, the initiator of these amendments.
In an interview with the TV3 programme “900 Seconds”, the President explained that sometimes politicians make decisions with a mindset of “what can you do to us,” but the awareness that voters can exercise real legislative initiative rights would make politicians approach certain issues more responsibly.
However, the President emphasized that neither this nor any other tool is a magic wand that will restore public trust in state power. Rebuilding trust requires many small steps, and easing the referendum process is, in Rinkēvičs’ view, just one of them.
“We face a much more complex and entrenched problem, but it can only be solved step by step – by amending laws, making understandable decisions, explaining those decisions clearly, and responding to absurdities. There are many small steps to take, but unfortunately, the gap [between the public and government] is large and isn’t shrinking,” he said.
When asked if the required number of initial signatures could be further reduced through discussions to encourage more state involvement in signature collection, Rinkēvičs confirmed this was a possibility, emphasizing that it’s open for debate.
As reported by LETA, the President has called on the Saeima to amend the law on referendums, legislative initiatives, and European citizens’ initiatives. His proposal includes reducing the number of signatures needed to initiate a referendum on a legislative proposal from 10% to 5%, while suggesting that the state take on a greater role in reaching the 10% threshold.
Currently, to successfully initiate a referendum, signatures from at least 10% of eligible voters—around 150 000 Latvian citizens aged 18 or over—must be collected.
Only then can the proposal be submitted for a national vote.
Under current law, the initiative group must submit a fully drafted bill to the Central Election Commission (CEC). If deemed compliant with legal standards, signature collection begins. Within one year, at least 10% of voters must sign, either in person (e.g., with a notary) or electronically. However, no initiative has ever reached this threshold.
The President’s proposal suggests reducing the initial threshold to 5% of voters – or one-twentieth– who participated in the most recent parliamentary election. Signature collection would take place in two phases.
Phase one: After registration with the CEC, at least 5% of voters who took part in the last Saeima elections must sign within six months. Signatures can be collected in person or electronically.
Phase two: If 5% threshold is met, the CEC would launch a 30-day campaign to reach 10% of all eligible voters. Citizens could sign at designated municipal locations or online. Signatures from Phase one would carry over. If the full 10% is achieved within 30 days, the CEC would forward the initiative to the President, who would then submit it to Parliament.
Rinkēvičs said that over time it will be necessary to assess whether these changes help. He cited a 2014 Constitutional Court ruling stating that the legal framework must be reviewed periodically to ensure voter rights remain practical and effective. Feedback from both citizens and political parties suggests the current system is overly burdensome and discourages public participation.
He clarified that the proposed changes are not a return to pre-2012 rules, which allowed referendums with just 10 000 signatures. The current system requires a full legislative proposal and only permits CEC involvement after all signatures are gathered. The new plan transfers that burden to the state after 5% is reached.
Asked why 5% was chosen, the President pointed to platforms like ManaBalss.lv, which successfully encourage public involvement in the legislative process, but noted that referendums are more serious and require stricter procedures. The requirement for a fully drafted and legally sound proposal remains unchanged.
“This eliminates doubts about any attempt to amend the core principles of the Constitution,” Rinkēvičs stressed. […] A draft law has been drawn up with the advisors, with the agreement that this would be the best way to increase participation […]. I am now encouraging this discussion in the Saeima. Any draft law that is considered by the Parliament needs to be improved, refined, clarified.”
He reiterated that this is only one step in restoring public trust in government, not a cure-all. Rinkēvičs added that some issues that gain attention on social media don’t always garner broader public support. The reform would liberalize the process but still ensure only serious proposals advance.
In response to concerns that state funds might be wasted on referendums that fail, the President argued that democracy shouldn’t be measured in costs. If an issue is important to a significant portion of the population, it deserves to reach a vote.
To prevent misuse of public funds, the President proposes that the state only becomes involved in the second stage of signature collection after 5% has been reached within six months of registration with the CEC.
Afterward, signature collection would follow existing procedures, with added electronic signing allowed during the second phase. Importantly, the requirement to gather 10% of eligible voters for submitting constitutional amendments or bills to the President remains unchanged.
“It is important to stress that the right to submit a fully worked-out draft amendment to the Constitution or a draft law to the President of the Republic would remain with no less than one tenth of the electorate, as stipulated in the Constitution,” Rinkēvičs points out.
He added that the CEC would continue to assess whether the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution submitted by voters was fully developed in form and content before registering a legislative initiative for signature collection.
The President emphasized that voter initiative rights must be not only theoretical but practically achievable.
According to the President’s advisor Mārtiņš Drēģeris, on Monday Rinkēvičs signed and submitted the proposed legislation to the Saeima Presidium, aiming to strengthen citizen involvement in key societal decisions and provide more state support for signature collection efforts.
In a democratic republic like Latvia, Rinkēvičs argues, the people must have real influence over state decision-making. The will of the people should be the foundation and source of state power. Legislative initiatives are an important tool for citizens to act as lawmakers and voice their opinion on needed legislation.
He pointed out that the 2012 amendments significantly reduced the state’s involvement in citizen-driven initiatives. While the Constitutional Court deemed the process lawful in 2014, it also stressed the need to ensure these rights remain accessible.
Since 2013, not a single voter-drafted bill or constitutional amendment has been submitted to the President or considered by Parliament, raising doubts about whether the current system truly allows citizens to exercise their rights effectively.
Rinkēvičs believes that restoring a two-stage signature process with greater state involvement would enhance civic participation in critical societal decisions and promote democratic development.
The proposed changes would apply to all legislative initiatives and constitutional amendments submitted to the CEC after the 1st of January 2027, giving institutions time to implement the new procedure.
Earlier this year, the President stressed the need to review the conditions for initiating referendums, adding that the reduced threshold would not apply to amendments concerning the core of the Constitution.
Since the 2012 reforms, no referendums have taken place in Latvia, despite dozens of initiatives being submitted to the CEC. None have managed to collect the necessary signatures. The last referendum, held in 2012, sought to grant Russian the status of a second official language. It was ultimately rejected.
Before 2012, only 10 000 signatures were needed to start a referendum. Some politicians felt that threshold was too low. Since the changes, however, many opposition or non-governing figures have argued that the current 10% requirement is too high and effectively prevents national votes.