European Parliament President Metsola to visit Latvia

RIGA - European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is due to arrive in Latvia on January 12 as part of her tour of European Union (EU) member states ahead of next year's European Parliament elections, the European Parliament's press secretary in Latvia Janis Krastins informed LETA. 

In the runup to the June 2024 European Parliament elections, Metsola plans to visit all EU member states to encourage citizens to turn out for the vote. Latvia is scheduled to hold the European Parliament elections on June 8.

The European Parliament president notes that she would be visiting Latvia at a time when the Baltic country remembers the 1991 barricades which Latvians built as proof of their readiness to put their lives on the line for freedom. 

"This is something to keep in mind in every election - democracy must be protected. Free elections are one of the cornerstones of European democracy and are far from a obvious. There are still countries right next door where people are fighting for democracy and freedom at the cost of their lives," Metsola said ahead of her visit

In Latvia, Metsola will meet with top state officials, representatives of NGOs and young people to discuss the importance of participation in elections and the need to strengthen democracy in current volatile geopolitical circumstances. 

Metsola is a Maltese MEP who represents the European People's Party Group (EPP Group) in the EU Parliament. She was elected President of the European Parliament in January 2022.