Preamble ready for president’s signature

  • 2014-07-03
  • From wire reports

RIGA - President Andris Berzins does indeed intend to promulgate the parliament-approved Preamble to the Constitution, said the president’s spokeswoman Liga Krapane, reports LETA. Saeima approved the Preamble in the final reading on June 19. Sixty-nine MPs from the ruling coalition, as well as several independent MPs supported the Preamble, while 28 MPs from Harmony Center voter against it. The final vote was met with loud applause from parliament members.

The Preamble states that “The Republic of Latvia, proclaimed on November 18, 1918, was created by uniting lands historically populated by Latvians, on the basis of the Latvian nation’s will and right to self-determination, in order to guarantee the existence and development of the Latvian nation, language and culture through the ages, and to ensure the freedom and welfare of the nation and every individual thereof. The identity of the Latvian nation within the culture of Europe is based on the ethnic traditions of Latvians, the Latvian language, universal human and Christian values.

The Latvian language is the basis for democratic participation and consolidation of society. The fundamental values of society in Latvia include freedom, integrity, justice, solidarity, equality, family and work. Each member of society cares for himself or herself, his or her loved ones, for the good of society as a whole, and treats his/her fellow man, the state, the environment, nature and future generations with utmost responsibility.

Being an equal partner of the international community, Latvia will protect its interests and contribute to humane, sustainable and democratic development of the united Europe,” the Preamble states. Not everyone is pleased with the document. Opposition party Harmony Center, which did not support the Preamble, says it will decide what further action it will take in regard to the issue.

The deputy head of Harmony Center’s group at Saeima, Valerijs Agesins, told members of the press that there are various scenarios the party could take, with each of them having both positives and negatives. One course of action would be to request for the president not to promulgate the Preamble, while another would be to turn to the Constitutional Court. “Another option would be to move towards a referendum on this matter,” Agesins added. The politician added that another option would be to do nothing, so to not allow the ruling coalition be able to bring up this matter ahead of the next elections.