Political statement on rights of LGBTQ community, signed by PM Karins, not binding on Latvia - Levits

RIGA - The political statement on the rights of the LGBTQ community, signed by Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity), is not legally binding on Latvia, President Egils Levits said in an interview with Riga TV24.

According to Levits, the context has to be taken into account. There are a lot of such political statements, and this particular one, issued in response to a new law passed in Hungary that the European Commission considers discriminatory against the LGBTQ community, does not even mention Hungary's name. In addition, the political statement has been signed by the leaders of the 17 European Union member states, while heads of ten EU member countries have not signed it, said Levits.

If the statement was binding, the prime minister would have to receive the relevant authorization and follow a certain procedure, explained Levits.

The National Alliance earlier said that it would on Monday call on the prime minister to explain expressing his opinion on behalf of Latvia regarding the new Hungarian law.