Saeima rejects making Orthodox Christmas a public holiday

RIGA – On March 1, Latvian Saeima once again rejected Harmony Center's motion to amend the law on national holidays and remembrance days by making Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 7) a public holiday, reports LETA.

43 MPs voted for amending the law, 46 voted against and one abstained. All members of Harmony Center and the Union of Greens and Farmers voted for the amendments, whilst all ruling coalition MPs voted against. The abstainer was Zatlers Reform Party (ZRP) member Inga Bite, whereas Gunars Igaunis (ZRP), Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica (ZRP), Juris Vilums (ZRP) and Janis Lacplesis (Unity) did not participate in the vote.

During the debate preceding the vote, Valerijs Agesins (Harmony Center) reminded that around 372,000 Orthodox Christians and Old Believers live in Latvia.

"It is important for them to celebrate Christmas according to their official calendar, on January 7. The state should ensure fundamental rights for the people, such as those stated in the Bible and the Constitution, as well as international regulations," he pointed out.

Andrejs Judins (Unity) argued that Harmony Center had handed in the bill not because it cared for believers but for political purposes, with the goal of increasing the rift in society, to sow discord.

"Parliament must not violate the Constitution's clause on separation of powers, which it would do by making Orthodox Christmas a public holiday. The law on public holidays does need to be amended, but now is not the right time for this," he said.