RIGA - Latvia's outgoing parliament will not pass a bill restricting dual citizens' rights to hold high-ranking posts, while the new parliament is unlikely to pick up the draft legislation.
Mareks Seglins, chairman of Parliament's legal affairs committee, said the restrictions were needed to prevent candidates with dual citizenship from taking ministerial, prime ministerial and presidential posts. But the document was never passed due to objections from the center-right New Era party, which used to be an ally of the ruling People's Party that initiated the bill.
The bill, submitted to Parliament in 2004, would also ban lawmakers from holding dual citizenships, but the People' s Party has changed its stance on this point.
"The people can elect in the parliament a citizen of whatever country they like," Seglins said. "The draft document will not be considered by the incoming parliament."
There are two dual citizens in Latvia' s 100-seat parliament -- Krisjanis Karins and Uldis Grava, both representing New Era.
