President declines to comment on developments concerning Istanbul Convention, calls for rational discussion

RIGA - President Edgars Rinkevics on Wednesday declined to comment on the developments in parliament concerning the Istanbul Convention, urging Saeima members to have a rational discussion, and said that he would to review a draft bill on Latvia's withdrawal from the convention if it was agreed on by Saeima majority.

After a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) today, the president told reporters that Saeima was currently considering Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and that he would wait for Saeima's decision before giving his opinion on the matter.

The president said that he had already expressed his personal opinion on the Istanbul Convention. He hopes that Saeima discussions will be rational, taking into account international, foreign policy and legal aspects.

"If Saeima votes on and adopts the draft bill, and this draft bill ends up on my desk, I will, in accordance with the Constitution, assess this bill and make a decision," Rinkevics said.

The prime minister emphasized that the political debate on the Istanbul Convention should not affect the rights of victims of violence and assistance available to them.

The Istanbul Convention and related initiatives are always on the government's agenda, said Silina. Domestic violence and violence against women have no place in Latvia, and the government will continue work to ensure support for those seeking help from public institutions.

"I will do everything that depends on me and the government to ensure that people who have placed their trust in the state and who receive assistance can continue to receive it, and that children who have escaped from abusive homes can continue to receive support," said the prime minister.

The political debate, which can sometimes be described as "political theater", must not affect legitimate expectations of people who rely on the protection of the state, said Silina.

As reported, Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday endorsed the proposal for Latvia to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, forwarding the bill for the first reading in parliament.

On Wednesday, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee started a political debate on the proposal. Previously, they had only heard the opinions of ministries and nongovernmental organizations.

LETA also reported, thanks to the support of the ruling coalition partner, the Union of Greens and Farmers, the Saeima at the end of September handed over to the foreign affairs committee the opposition MPs' proposal for Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. The Greens/Farmers' vote on the Istanbul Convention has shaken the stability of the government coalition, with the ruling New Unity and Progressives regarding it as a breach of the coalition agreement.

In Latvia, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence entered into force on May 1 last year. It is an international treaty that requires its Member States to develop coherent policies to better protect women from all forms of violence, as well as women and men from domestic violence. These include providing comprehensive assistance and protection for victims, crisis centers, a 24-hour crisis hotline, specialized support centers for victims of sexual violence, and protection and support for child witnesses of violence.