Zatlers rejects three high-profile bills

  • 2010-06-22
  • Oskars Magone

The Latvian president announced that he would be sending three controversial bills back to parliament for review. (photo: president.lv)

RIGA - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has sent three controversial bills back to parliament ahead of the country's midsummer holidays.

In an interview with Latvian state radio, Zatlers said he had vetoed a bill on insolvency reform, Latvian language requirements for media companies, and anti-corruption legislation.

By sending them back to parliament unsigned he is in effect asking the legislature to reveiw and reform the bills. If they are passed through a second time then the president will have to sign them into law.

The first law, on insolvency, is targeted at helping troubled borrowers honor their obligations. Under the bill a natural person will be able to seek insolvency if their debts exceed  5,000 lats and the debts are overdue.

The second bill, which involves language on bradcast media, would define the standards on aspects such as advertising, content, language, and network coverage. The law would also annul an EU procedure that has seen Latvia acrue fines for failing to adhere to a directive on audio-visual media services.

Under the third bill, regarding the conflict of interest law, political parties' chairpersons and board members will have to hand in their income declarations in two weeks after the law comes into force.